diss "B X q .TfeF 
Rook .Kft 

PRESENTED BY 



3 O 



Eer. L. H. KEFAUVER, D.D. Rev. F. NY. KREMER, D.D. Rev. JOHN KUELLING, D.D. Rev. P. G REDING, D.D. 

Elder L. H. STEINER, M.D. Rev. THOS. G. APPLE, D.D. Rev. J. H. GOOD, D.D. Elder R. F. KELKER. 

Rev. JOHN M. TITZEL, D.D. Rev . G> WM . WELKEK( D . D . 

Elder C. M. BOU8H. Rev. C. Z. WEISER, D.D., President. Elder B . K UHNS. 

Rev. S. N. CALLENDER, D.D., English Sec'y. Rev . H . J. RUETENIK, D.D., German Sec'y. 

Elder W.H.SEIBKRT. Rev. JO?. H. APPLE. Elder D. W. GROSS. Elder W. D. GROSS. 

Elder HENRY WIRT. E1(ler F . W- SCHEELE. 

Elder A. H. BAUGHMAX. Elder HENRY TONS. 



THE 

Liturgical Conflict 

AND THE 

PEACE MOVEMENT 

OF THE 

REFORMED CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES 

AS EXHIBITED BY THE 

Official Records of the General Synod 



PUBLISHED BY 



Elders Benjamin Kuhns, Dayton, Ohio, Rudolph F. Kelker, Harrisburg 
Pennsylvania, Members of the Peace Commission and 
Liturgical Committee 



Dayton, Ohio 
Press of U. B. Publishing House 
1896 



Copyright, 1896, 
By Benjamin Ktjhns 
and Rudolph F. Kelkee. 



PREFACE. 



This compilation, made from the official records of proceed- 
ings of the General Synod of the Church, presents an authen- 
tic history of the Peace Commission and of the Liturgical 
Committee. 

The Church of the present time, its theological professors, 
ministers, and laymen, are hereby reminded of the results of 
the labor of these two bodies, and of the extreme satisfaction 
and relief experienced by all who had the true interests of 
our Reformed Zion at heart. 

During the years of controversy our Home and Foreign 
Mission work languished, our people were disheartened, our 
congregations in many instances were divided. A number of 
our ministers passed over into the Roman Catholic Church, 
and others found a home in the Protestant Episcopal, Metho- 
dist Episcopal, Presbyterian, and other churches. Hundreds 
of the laity, wearied with controversy, who had their own 
and their children's spiritual interests at heart, found refuge 
in sister churches, carrying with them their earthly substance 
and their influence, and are now found among the most 
active members and supporters of the faith in their new 
church homes. With peace came union and prosperity in 
every department — a great and decided advance along the 
whole Mne. Our Home Mission work was greatly enlarged, 
and our Foreign Mission work received an impulse which has 
blessed it (when we consider the few missionaries we sent 
abroad and the amount of money disbursed) in a measure 
equal to, and in many instances far exceeding in proportion, 
the success of that of any other denomination in the foreign 

iii 



iv 



field. But a cloud has appeared on the horizon, which, 
although now no bigger than a man's hand, unless dissipated 
by prompt and decisive action by the General Synod, por- 
tends trouble and disaster. Nine of the twelve elders and 
three of the twelve ministers who were members of the Peace 
and Liturgical Committees have gone to their reward. Old 
issues which were believed and accepted as settled, are being 
^renewed. The Constitution of the Church, which is our or- 
ganic law, and the provisions of which cannot be lawfully set 
aside by mere resolutions of Synod, have all along been per- 
sistently violated by many ministers and elders. The Order 
of Worship, which, by resolution of Synod at the time, was 
permitted to be used, with a clear understanding, only as a 
provisional book, continues to be used by many ministers, 
although the Directory of Worship was unanimously adopted 
by the Liturgical Committee and constitutionally adopted by 
the Classes, and formally declared by General Synod as the 
book of the Church. Nor is this all : the Publication Board 
of the Pittsburg, East, and Potomac Synods has issued and 
continues to sell the Order of Worship after the lawful 
adoption of the Directory of Worship. Hundreds of per- 
sons are still admitted to membership in the Reformed Church 
according to the Order of Worship without answering a 
single question required by the Constitution. No such person 
has any personal or property rights in the congregation into 
which they have thus been unlawfully received, nor can they 
ever be disciplined by a consistory should they prove un- 
faithful to their religious profession. The questions referred 
to, and to which the Constitution requires an affirmative 
answer, constitute the very foundation of the Protestant Re- 
formed faith. Every minister of the Reformed Church by 
his ordination vows, as well as every elder by his, has most 
solemnly bound himself to obey the Constitution, and how 
any one resting under such a vow can persistently ignore and 
disobey it, is a matter of profound astonishment to every un- 
prejudiced mind. 



V 



A refuge from such inconsistency and dilemma was sought 
in Articles 127 and 135 of a proposed new Constitution pre- 
pared after years of labor and submitted to the Classes. The 
Church by a kind Providence was saved by its rejection. By 
its provisions, persons were to be admitted to membership 
according to "the order prescribed by the Liturgy of the 
Church" and " no Order of Worship" "should be observed 
unless approved or recommended by the General Synod." 
The Constitution itself should, as our present one does, definitely 
provide for the manner in which a person should be admitted 
to all the privileges and immunities of the Church, and the 
matter should not be left to partisan feelings, which might at 
any time move the General Synod by a mere majority of 
votes to " approve or recommend" and in that manner attempt 
to justify, the use of a Liturgy or Order of Worship which had 
not previously been adopted by a two-thirds vote of the 
Classes. If the Constitution of the Church had been strictly 
adhered to, and no Book of Worship allowed to be introduced 
into the congregations until it had been constitutionally 
adopted, the confusion that has existed since 1858 would 
never have occurred. The permission to use provisional books 
only tends to create parties in the congregation, and puts it 
in the power of partisan ministers of the Church to perpetu- 
ate this confusion to the detriment of its peace and of all vital 
religion. 

Especially should all our theological seminaries and colleges 
render strict obedience to our Constitution. Loyalty to it, 
and the Church whose organic law it is, should be inculcated. 
They should not assume to direct the public worship of the 
students, or of any body of Christians, in accordance with 
their personal views. 

Those who are professors in these institutions are the serv- 
ants of the Church, bound by the most solemn oath to 
observe its ordinances, and a righteous God will require an 
account hereafter from them, as to the manner in which they 
have led or misled the young aspirant to the Christian minis- 



vi 



try. Disloyalty at these fountain heads is a seed that will 
germinate in the young mind, and if tolerated in the least 
degree will work trouble and disaster to the Church. 

May our Heavenly Father in his infinite mercy incline the 
hearts of those brethren who seem so unwilling to obey the 
voice of the Classes and of the General Synod, and so unwill- 
ing to surrender personal views for the good of the whole 
Church, now to acquiesce, and to show the same blessed spirit 
of love and compromise which filled the hearts of the Peace 
Commissioners. 

In the essentials of religion our ministry and our people are 
one. Why should non-essentials separate brethren ? Our 
dear Redeemer said, u Blessed are the peacemakers " ; as to 
the peacebreakers, we are left to infer what he would say of them. 
The Reformed Church at large desires peace and quiet. For 
thirty years she was disturbed by theological controversy, 
often conducted by personalities unworthy of the Christian 
name. The opposing combatants themselves grew weary of 
the conflict ; the Church mourned ; the prayers of God 's 
people prevailed, and measures were instituted which brought 
the long-sought-for harmony. The Doxology was sung by 
Synod after Synod, and General Synod, filled with joy, took 
up the sacred Te Deum, and the entire Church responded with 
praise and with renewed activity in Christian work. Let no 
brother now, whether as professor, pastor, or layman, bring 
back discord, but, yielding personal notions as to cultus or 
government, join hand and heart in furthering the kingdom 
of Christ and the prosperity of the Martyr Church of the 
Reformation. Amen. 

Rudolph F. Kelker. 

Harrisburg, Pa., March 21, 1896. 



PART I. 

THE LITURGICAL CONFLICT. 



The Liturgical Conflict and the Peace Movement 

IN THE 

REFORMED CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Part I. The Liturgical Conflict. 

THE FIRST SESSION OF THE GENERAL 
SYNOD. 

The question or questions involved had been discussed 
even before the General Synod of the Reformed Church in 
the United States was organized. General Synod was 
organized and held its first session in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania (Grace Church, corner Grant and Webster streets ) r 
November 18-25, 1863, " in conformity with arrange- 
ments previously adopted." The opening sermon was 
preached by Rev. Dr. J. W. Nevin, and the election of offi- 
cers resulted as follows: 

Rev. John W. Nevin, D.D., Lancaster, Pennsylvania,, 
President. 

Rev. Moses Kieffer, D.D., Tiffin, Ohio, Vice-President. 
Rev. Daniel Zacharias, Frederick, Maryland, Vice-Presi- 
dent. 

Rev. Isaac H. Reiter, Miamisburg, Ohio, Secretary. 
Rev. George W. Williard, Dayton, Ohio, Corresponding 
Secretary. 

9 



10 

Mr. John Wiest, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Treasurer. 

In the minutes of this the first session of General Synod, 
in the report of the Committee on Minutes of the Synods, 
the following items appear: 

Item 1, minutes 1863, page 12; minutes of the Synod of 
the German Reformed Church of Ohio and Adjacent States, 
13 : " In view of the fact that a great variety of Liturgies are 
in use in different portions of the Church, the Synod has 
adopted the following resolutions : 

" ' 1. Resolved, That this Synod feels the necessity of a 
Liturgy that can be brought into general use throughout the 
entire Church, so as to secure uniformity of worship. 

" ' 2. Resolved, That this Synod is opposed to the continued 
use of the Provisional Liturgy as such, and would request the 
General Synod so to modify it as to enable us to introduce it 
into our congregations. 

" ' 3. Resolved, That should the Provisional LituTgy not ad- 
mit of such modification, the General Synod be earnestly re- 
quested to take such measures at once to provide a Liturgy 
adapted to the wants of the Church. 

'"4. Resolved, That in case the General Synod does not feel 
prepared to act in this matter, it be requested to allow us to 
provide a Liturgy which, in our opinion, will be adapted to 
the wants of our Church, and that a committee of five be ap- 
pointed to go forward in this work, should the contingency 
arise.' " 

This was " referred to a special committee consisting of 
Rev. G. W. Williard, Dr. J. Bossard, T. G. Apple, and 
G. B. Russell, and Elders Dr. S. B. Kieffer and T, W. 
Chapman." (Pages 13 and 14.) 

On Tuesday afternoon, November 24, "the committee 
on the subject of the Liturgy submitted their report. 
[ Page 27.] After considerable earnest discussion, a substi- 
tute was offered for the whole report. This substitute 
demanded the appointment of a committee, whose duty it 



11 



should be to so revise and modify the Provisional Liturgy 
as to adapt it to the wants of the whole Church. On this 
form of the question the greater part of the discussion 
of the whole subject was based. Pending this subject 
the Synod adjourned to meet this evening at seven 
o'clock." 

"Tuesday Evening, November 24, 7 o'clock. 

"The Synod met and was opened with singing and 
prayer. 

"The subject of the Liturgy, pending at adjournment, 
was resumed, and continued under discussion during the 
whole of the evening session, without arriving at any con- 
clusive results. Synod adjourned." " 

November 25. " Synod met. The regular order of 
business was taken up for further consideration. An 
amendment to the substitute was now offered and enter- 
tained. This amendment directed the committee called for 
in the substitute to make the revision of the Provisional 
Liturgy on the basis of the specific instructions originally 
and repeatedly given to the Liturgical Committee of the 
Eastern Synod. At this stage of the proceedings, and 
while the amendment was under discussion, the Synod 
adjourned." ( Pages 27 and 28.) 

" Wednesday, November 25, 2 o'clock p.m. 

"Synod met. The order of business, the subject of the 
Liturgy, was resumed, and after some further discussion 
the amendment to the substitute was voted upon and 
carried. The substitute, as amended, was then considered 
and discussed and finally voted down. 



12 



"The original report, as submitted by the committee, 
was thereupon again taken into consideration, slightly 
amended, and finally adopted : 

" 1 The committee on the subject of the Liturgy, as referred 
to this Synod by the Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States, would 
respectfully report : 

" ' That they have given the subject the attention and consid- 
eration which its importance demands. They find the subject 
encumbered with many difficulties, in view of the diversity 
of sentiment in reference to the liturgical question. In the 
opinion of a majority of the committee it is thought that 
should a modification of the Provisional Liturgy be pressed 
upon the Synod at the present time, there might be as much 
opposition to such modifications in certain portions of the 
Church as there is now against the Liturgy in its present 
form, so that we would have as much diversity as now exists. 
Hence, the committee would recommend the following ac- 
tion : 

" ' Resolved, That the request of the Synod of Ohio and ad- 
jacent States be granted, namely, that they be allowed to pre- 
pare a Liturgy which, in their judgment, may be better 
adapted to the wants of the Church. And, 

" ' Whereas, the Eastern Synod has also been engaged for 
a number of years in preparing a Liturgy adapted to the wants 
of the Church, and their work has not yet been finally re- 
vised ; therefore, 

" ' Resolved, That it be recommended to the Eastern Synod to 
go forward in the work of revising its Liturgy according to 
its own judgment, so that the General Synod may have before 
it also the Liturgy of the Eastern Synod in its complete form, 
in which they may desire it finally to appear, with a view to 
final action on the whole subject.' " 1 ( Page 29.) 

1 At this time there were only two Synods, which had united to form the Gen- 
eral Synod. Their official names were: "Synod of the German Reformed Church 
in the United States" (colloquially called Eastern Synod) and "The Synod of the 
German Reformed Church of Ohio and Adjacent States." 



13 



SECOND TRIENNIAL SESSION OF THE 
GENERAL SYNOD. 

Dayton, Ohio, November 28 -December 7, 1866. 
Rev. Daniel Zacharias, President. 

The Committee on the Minutes of the General Synod re- 
ported among other things : " Item 6. The action of the 
General Synod touching the preparation of a Liturgy by 
the Synod of Ohio and the revision of the Provisional 
Liturgy prepared by the Eastern Synod." 

When this report was being considered, " item 6, having 
reference to the subject of the Liturgy, was laid on the 
table until the Standing Committee on the Minutes of the 
District Synods reports." (Pages 15 and 56.) This com- 
mittee reported: 

"The Synod of the German Reformed Church in the United 
States has, in accordance with the recommendations of this 
Synod, completed its revision of the Provisional Liturgy and 
authorized its optional use in the place of the Provisional 
Liturgy within its bounds, until the whole subject be finally 
disposed of, and refers the same to this Synod for action. 

" Item 8. The Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States has, ac- 
cording to the permission given it by this Synod, gone forward 
with the preparation of a Liturgy adapted to the wants of the 
Church within its bounds, and has instructed its committee 
on the Liturgy to report to this Synod so much of the work as 
has come under its revision and ask of this Synod permission 
to continue its labors in this respect." ( Page 59.) 

" Items 7 and 8, together with all matters having refer- 
ence to the subject of the Liturgy," were referred to a 
special committee, consisting of Revs. Dr. Daniel Gans, 



14 



David Winters, Dr. Samuel R. Fisher, Prof. Jeremiah H. 
Good, John Beck, and Elders Edward Swander, Valentine 
C. Tidball, Adam B. Wingerd, and David C. Ham- 
mond. 

" In this connection, the report of the Western Commit- 
tee on the Liturgy was submitted, and, having been read, 
was received and referred to the same special committee, 
and is as follows : 

" ' The Liturgical Committee of the Synod of Ohio and Adja- 
cent States respectfully submits the following report : 

" 'The General Synod having refused to modify the Provis- 
ional Liturgy as requested by the Synod of Ohio and Adjacent 
States, and permitted it, in consequence thereof, to prepare a 
Liturgy which might be so adapted to the wants of the Church 
within its bounds as to be brought in general use and thus 
secure uniformity in its worship, its committee on the sub- 
ject of the Liturgy at once proceeded to the work for which 
it was appointed, adopting as the basis for the new Liturgy 
the Liturgies of the Reformed Church of the Reformation 
period. As the members of the committee resided at a dis- 
tance from each other, it was impossible to have as frequent 
meetings as was desired and necessary to facilitate the work. 
In consequence of this difficulty, in connection with others not 
necessary here to be referred to, the work has not progressed 
as rapidly as was expected. A number of forms, however, 
have been prepared and published, the optional use of which 
has been authorized by the Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States 
within its bounds. 

" ' It is also due to the committee to state that the accompany- 
ing report, as will be seen by the note with which it is pre- 
faced, is very imperfect and incomplete, and was published to 
report progress, supply what was felt to be a pressing want, 
and furnish the Synod some samples of the character of the 
work in course of preparation. 



15 



"'The committee was also instructed to request this Synod 
to allow it to continue its labors in this respect. 

" ' With these remarks, which seem to be necessary to place 
the subject in its proper light, we respectfully submit to this 
Synod the accompanying report, which will show the prog- 
ress which the Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States has made 
in providing a Liturgy adapted to the wants of the Church 
within its bounds. 

(Signed by the Committee,) " ' J. Lichtenstein. 

u ' Max Stern. 

u ' Geo. W. Williard. 

"'J. H. Klein.'" 

(Page 61.) 

On motion the Synod 

" Resolved, That the general subject of the Liturgy, as it will 
come before the Synod through its committee, shall be made 
the special order of the day for Tuesday (December 4) at the 
opening of the afternoon session." (Page 62.) 

Tuesday, December 4, 2:30 o'clock p.m., Synod met, 
and after singing and prayer "the special order of the day, 
being the reception and consideration of the report of the 
committee on the subject of the Liturgy, was taken up. 
The committee submitted their report, which was read 
and received and is as follows : 

" ' THE COMMITTEE'S, OR MAJORITY, REPORT. 

" 1 The Committee on Liturgy beg leave to submit the follow- 
ing report : 

" ' Whereas, It is most desirable and important that the 
movement in the German Reformed Church in reference to li- 
turgical worship should be left to work out its legitimate result 
in a free and untrammeled way : and in view, moreover, of the 
fact that the Western Synod has not yet finished the work 
which it has in hand and asks still further time for its com- 
pletion, which in the nature of the case precludes the pos- 



16 



sibility of referring the subject to the Classes at the present 
time; therefore, 

" 'Resolved, 1. That the Western Synod, in conformity with 
its own request, be authorized to continue its labors in pre- 
paring a Liturgy. 

"'Resolved, 2. That the Revised Liturgy reported to this 
Synod by the Eastern Synod, according to the directions of 
the General Synod of Pittsburg, entitled an " Order of Wor- 
ship for the Reformed Church," be and is hereby allowed as 
an Order of Worship proper to be used in the congregations 
and families of the Reformed Church. 

" 'Resolved, 3. That this action is not designed to interfere in 
any way with that freedom which is now enjoyed in regard to 
the Liturgy, by all such ministers and congregations as may 
not be prepared to introduce it in whole or in part. 
(Signed,) "'D. Gans. 

"'Samuel R. Fisher. 

'"John Beck. 

'"D. C. Hammond. 

"'A. B. Wingerd.' 

"A motion was made and seconded for the adoption of 
the report. As, however, the committee disagreed, a re- 
port from the minority of the committee was presented by 
Rev. Prof. Jeremiah H. Good, which, on motion, was re- 
ceived as an amendment to the report of the committee, and 
is as follows : 

" ' REPORT OF THE MINORITY OF THE COMMITTEE. 

" ' The undersigned, a minority of the Committee on the Lit- 
urgy, are unable to agree with the conclusions at which the 
majority of the committee have arrived, and therefore beg 
leave respectfully to submit to the consideration of the Synod 
the following minority report : 

" ' The undersigned believe that it is our bounden duty, as a 
General Synod of the German Reformed Church in the United 
States, to express, regretfully, but firmly, our decided disap- 
probation to the introduction, for use in the Reformed 
churches, of the Revised Liturgy or Order of Worship, 



17 



submitted to this body by the Eastern Synod, They are of 
opinion that the action of the General Synod of Pittsburg, 
and of the Eastern Synod of York, Pennsylvania, evidently 
contemplated, and that the Constitution of the Church plainly 
requires, that this Synod should express either its approval or 
disapproval of the work ; and that, if approved by this Synod, 
it should then be sent down to the Classes for their approval 
or rejection. 

" 1 We recommend, therefore, that this General Synod should 
calmly and seriously examine and discuss this work, so far 
reaching in its aims, and so vital in character, with an earnest 
prayer by all, that God may so guide, direct, and illuminate 
our minds and hearts by his Holy Spirit, that we may arrive 
at a conclusion that shall be in accordance with his holy 
will. 

"'The undersigned believe, unless farther discussion and 
investigation shall be able to remove or modify these ob- 
jections, that this Synod should not endorse this work as the 
authorized Order of Worship in the German Reformed 
Church, for the following reasons : 

" ' 1. It involves an exceedingly great change in our Order 
of Worship, amounting, in fact, to a fundamental revolution of 
such order as has been observed in our Church during the 
whole period of its existence in America. 

" 1 2. It is not in accordance with the original character and 
genius of the German Reformed Church, as this is manifested 
in the Palatinate and other Reformed Liturgies of the six- 
teenth century. 

" 1 3. It is not in accordance with the historical tradition of 
the German Reformed Church. 

" 1 4. It is not in accordance with the present circumstances 
and needs of the German Reformed Church. 

" ' 5. It is believed that there is very little prospect of its 
successful introduction among the great body of our congrega- 
tions; and that the persistent attempt thus to introduce it 
will only issue in failure in the end. 

2 



18 



" ' 6. It will be the cause of loss, strife, division, and schism in 
our congregations. 

" ' 7. Its tendency will be to merge gradually a large por- 
tion of our body in that of another denomination. 

" ' 8. Another tendency flowing from its use will be to un- 
settle the foundations of our Church in regard to church 
government. 

" l 9. Connected with this, it will tend to unsettle the foun- 
dations of our beloved Zion in respect to its established doc- 
trines. 

" ' 10. It is believed that some of the doctrines contained in 
this work are decidedly not in accordance with the doctrines 
of our Confession of Faith. 

" ' 11. We think it will ultimately, if not immediately, in- 
fringe upon the Christian liberty of ministers and people. 

" 4 12. It will more and more separate us from sister denomi- 
nations of the Reformed faith with whom we are most closely 
allied, and in respect to whom we yearn for a closer union. 

" ' 13. It does not pay due respect to the German Reformed 
Church of the past, "the mother of us all." 

" ' 14. The system which it attempts to introduce is one, 
however beautiful in itself, and adapted in some cases to 
intelligent and educated congregations, wholly unsuited to 
the great body of our plain people. 

" ' 15. Finally, we think that its influence on ministers and 
people, on the work of missions, on the increase of ministers, 
on the growth of the Church, on charity among ourselves, and 
the work of grace in the hearts of our people, will be of very 
doubtful benefit. 

" ' We, therefore, recommend the adoption of the following 
resolutions : 

u ' 1. Resolved, That whilst the ability and zeal displayed in 
the preparation of the Revised Liturgy, or Order of Worship, 
submitted to the General Synod by the Eastern Synod are 
fully appreciated, its introduction into the Church would 
involve such essential changes in our cultus and doctrines 
that we cannot give it our approval. 



19 



"'2. Resolved, That the Revised Liturgy, together with the 
Provisional Liturgy of the Eastern Synod, and such material 
as the Liturgical Committee of the Western Synod may have 
prepared, be referred to a special committee, to be appointed 
by this Synod, with instructions to prepare such an Order of 
Worship (or Liturgy) as shall be in harmony with the doctrin- 
al and devotional principles and genius of the German Re- 
formed Church, and adapted to her present needs and circum- 
stances ; this committee to report the result of its labors at 
the next meeting of General Synod. 

" 1 3. Resolved, That in the prosecution of their work the 
committee shall be guided by the following principles : 

(1) The doctrines of the German Reformed Church, as 
set forth in the Heidelberg Catechism and the Liturgical 
Worship of the Reformation period, as set forth in the Palati- 
nate Liturgy of 1563, and other Reformed Liturgies, shall be 
made the general basis of the proposed Liturgy. 

(2) Those portions of the Liturgy which are most fre- 
quently used, such as the morning and evening service on 
the Lord's Day, the celebration of the Lord's supper, baptism, 
etc., shall embrace several forms, agreeing in substance and 
spirit, so as to adapt them the more readily to the varied 
conditions and wants of our congregations at the present 
time. 

" ' (3) The Liturgy shall be so constructed as not to inter- 
fere with the proper use of extemporaneous prayer, either in 
public or in private ; but rather so as to regulate, improve, 
and promote it. 

"'(4) The committee shall take measures to submit their 
work to the General Synod, in both English and German lan- 
guages ; in rendering the work into the German language, 
full liberty shall be given to do it in a free way, so that the 
work may have all the purity, propriety, and unction of lan- 
guage to adapt it to the wants of our increasing number of 
German congregations. 

(Signed,) " ' J. H. Good. 

" ' D. Winters. 
" ' Edw. Swander. 

" 1 V. C. TlDBALL.' 

"Now, on this form of the subject of the Liturgy, 
namely on the amendment, a full, interesting, and earnest 
discussion commenced and proceeded. 



20 



u Pending the question, the Synod adjourned until seven 
•o'clock in the evening." 

"Tuesday, December 4, 7 o'clock p.m." 

After the usual opening exercise, " the subject of the 
Liturgy, pending at the adjournment, was resumed, and 
continued under discussion the whole of the evening 
session. 

" Pending the question, the Synod adjourned to meet 
to-morrow morning at nine o'clock." 

" Wednesday, December 5, 9 o'clock a.m." 

Synod met and was opened in the usual manner. 

"The subject of the Liturgy, pending at the adjourn- 
ment on last evening, was resumed, and the discussion con- 
tinued during the whole of the morning session. 

"Pending the question, the Synod adjourned to meet at 
the fixed hour in the afternoon." 

" Wednesday, December 5, 2: 30 o'clock p.m." 

The Synod met and session was opened in the accus- 
tomed manner. 

"The subject of the Liturgy, pending at the adjourn- 
ment, was continued under discussion during the afternoon 
session. 

" Pending the question, the Synod adjourned until seven 
o'clock this evening." 

At seven o'clock " the subject of the Liturgy, pending at 
the adjournment, was continued under discussion during 
the evening session. 

"At this stage of the discussion, and just previous to 
adjournment, it was, on motion, 



21 



" 1 Resolved, That no member of Synod shall be permitted to 
speak more than once on the question in hand, excepting Rev. 
Prof. J. H. Good and Rev. Dr. D. Gans, who opened the dis- 
cussion; each of whom shall be privileged with a closing 
speech of fifteen minutes.' 

"Pending the question, the Synod adjourned until to- 
morrow morning at nine o'clock." 

" Thursday, December 6, 9 o'clock a.m." 

Synod met; session begun with the accustomed exer- 
cises. 

"The subject of the Liturgy, pending at adjournment 
on last evening, was resumed, and the discussion continued 
during the morning session, the regular time being ex- 
tended a half an hour." 

" Thursday, December 6, 2 o'clock p.m. 

"The subject of the Liturgy, pending at the adjourn- 
ment, was resumed and continued under discussion during 
the afternoon session. The hour of adjournment having 
arrived, on motion the time was extended a half an hour. 
Thereupon, according to resolution, the closing speeches 
of fifteen minutes each were made and the discussion, 
after continuing for two and a half days, was brought to 
a close at five o'clock p.m. 

" On motion, 

" ' Resolved, That, in view of the importance of the subject, 
the Synod spend half an hour in prayer, before the vote be 
taken.' 

"But before carrying this resolution into effect, and 
pending the question, the Synod adjourned until seven 



22 



o'clock this evening. Benediction by the President." 
(Pages 70-75.) 

At seven o'clock the Synod met and " according to reso- 
lution spent rralf an hour in devotional services, consisting 
in singing and prayer. The previous question was called, 
and sustained; and the minority and majority reports hav- 
ing been read, the Synod proceeded to vote by yeas and 
nays on the amendment, with the following result: Yeas, 
55; nays, 66. 

"The amendment being lost, the vote was taken by yeas 
and nays on the adoption of the report of the committee 
(or the majority report), with the following result: Yeas, 
64 ; nays 57." 

These votes are recorded on pages 75 and 76 of the 
minutes of the General Synod of Dayton in 1866. 

THIRD TRIENNIAL SESSION. 
Philadelphia, Pa., November 24 -December 3, 1869. 
Hev. Emanuel V. Gerhart, D.D., President. 

" REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OVERTURES." 

" Item 8. Comprises 71 memorials from congregations con- 
nected with the Eastern Synod and Westmoreland Classis of 
the Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States, requesting the atten- 
tion of Synod to certain facts regarding the Order of Wor- 
ship allowed for provisional use by the General Synod of 
Dayton and petitioning that this privilege be recalled and 
that such other action be taken in the case as may be proper." 
( Page 21.) This item 8 was " referred to a special committee, 
consisting of Revs. Isaac E. Graeff, Dr. J. W. Nevin, J. Heller, 
and Elders Daniel Hoffman and B. Renner." ( Page 22.) 



23 



"report of the COMMITTEE on minutes of the synod of the 

REFORMED CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES." 

" Minutes of 1867. Item 2. This Synod approved the ac- 
tion of General Synod in regard to the Order of Worship, 
declaring it as proper to be used in our congregations and 
families." (Page 29.) 

" Minutes of 1869. Item 12. Synod reiterates its approval 
of the action of the General Synod on the Order of Worship, 
and expresses its judgment that each Synod should be left 
to work out the liturgical question for itself freely." (Page 30.) 

"REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES OF THE SYNOD 
OF OHIO." 

" Item 33. The Synod receives and adopts the report of its 
Liturgical Committee. The result of its labors is the joint 
work of the Synod of Ohio and the Northwestern Synod. 
The work is entitled 'A Liturgy, or Order of Worship, for 
the Reformed Church.' The Synod: of Ohio respectfully asks 
the General Synod to allow its free use in the Church." 
(Page 32.) 

"REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES OF THE NORTH- 
WESTERN SYNOD." 

" Item 39. The work of the Liturgical Committee of the 
western part of the Church was approved, and a resolution 
passed by which the General Synod is requested to allow its 
free use." 

These items were "laid on the table until all items pertain- 
ing to this subject come up." (Page 34.) 

"WESTERN LITURGY PRESENTED TO SYNOD. 

" The Rev. George W. Williard, D.D., a member of the 
Western Liturgical Committee, presented to this Synod a 
copy of the work entitled 'A Liturgy, or Order of Wor- 
ship, for the Reformed Church,' prepared and published 



24 



under the direction of the Synod of Ohio and Adjacent 
States and the Northwestern Synod. 
" On motion, 

" 'Resolved, That the book entitled " A Liturgy, or Order of 
Worship, for the Reformed Church," presented in the name 
and in behalf of the aforesaid Synod, be received and referred 
to a special committee for examination, with instruction to 
report to this Synod.' 

" The committee called for in the above resolution con- 
sists of Revs. Dr. Thos. G. Apple, Dr. James Bossard, Dr. 
John W. Nevin, and Elders John Ermentrout and Daniel 
Small." (Page 36.) 

" On motion, 

Ui Resolved, That the several items contained in reports 
touching the Liturgy, which have been laid on the table, 
be referred to the committee on the subject of the Liturgy.' " 
(Page 37.) 

"report of the committee on minutes of classes." 

" Item 4. Sheboygan Classis requests General Synod to 
submit the Order of Worship to the examination of Classes." 

" Item 5. Tiffin Classis, in view of the fact that the intro- 
duction of the Order of Worship would involve very great 
changes in our established cultus and be the occasion of strife 
and discord, earnestly requests the General Synod at once to 
submit the same, in the constitutional mode, to the Classes for 
adoption or rejection." ( Page 38.) 

" Item 8. Mercersburg Classis adopted resolutions cordially 
indorsing the action of General Synod in allowing the use of 
the Order of Worship." 

" Item 10. Indiana Classis unanimously declares itself 
against the Order of Worship allowed by the General Synod 
and instructs its delegates to vote against the introduction or 
toleration of this Order of Worship." (Page 39.) 



25 



"Items. 4, 5, 8, 10, referred to the Special Committee 
on the Liturgy." (Page 40.) 

" The special committee to whom were referred the Lit- 
urgy prepared by the Synod of Ohio and of the North- 
west and items bearing on the general subject, submitted 
their report, which was read and received, and its adop- 
tion moved. It is as follows: 

" ' The committee to whom were referred the Liturgy pre- 
sented to this Synod by the Synod of Ohio and Adjacent 
States and the Northwestern Synod and also sundry other 
items relating to the general subject of the Liturgy, beg leave 
respectfully to report : 

" ' That the Ohio Synod and the Northwestern Synod have 
jointly produced a Liturgy or Order of Worship, which they 
present to this Synod and ask that permission be given 
them to use it in their worship. We have given such exam- 
ination to this Liturgy as our limited time allowed, while 
several members of the committee have examined it with 
considerable care. We do not deem it necessary, however, to 
present any particular account of the book. This could not 
indeed be done in this report. Your committee deem it suf- 
ficient that two Synods have joined in producing this Liturgy 
and in asking privilege to use it. We think that due respect 
to those Synods requires that their request be granted. This 
we find to be also the mind of the Eastern Synod on this 
point, as expressed in their action at Danville. While they 
claim the privilege of using their Order of Worship, under 
the permission given them by the General Synod at Dayton, 
they think that a like privilege should also be accorded to 
those two Synods. 

"'The other items referred to this committee consist of 
certain action taken by several Classes, some for and some 
against the Order of Worship, and one asking that it be 
sent down to the Classes for examination. Your committee 



•_>6 



thinks that nothing would be gained towards the settlement 
of the liturgical question by sending any Liturgy down to the 
Classes at this time. We do not believe that the Church is 
prepared to unite on any one now. The only possible course, 
it seems to us, is to allow the question to work out its results 
in a free way ; and therefore no trammels should be put upon 
the matter in any direction. Of course there are certain 
limits within which the General Synod should keep the 
movement. It should be guarded from danger and evil. But 
within these limits we think the Church should allow a certain 
amount of differences to prevail. We see no reason why, under 
this freedom allowed to both tendencies, the Church may not 
settle down to comparative peace and quiet on the subject of 
the Liturgy. 

" ' We recommend for adoption the following preamble and 
resolutions : 

" ' Whereas, the Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States, and the 
Synod of the Northwest, have produced a Liturgy or Order of 
Worship which they deem proper to be used in their worship, 
and request to be permitted to use it; therefore, 

" ' Resolved, That their request be granted, and that the privi- 
lege is hereby granted to all throughout the Church, who may 
desire it, to use the Liturgy in their worship. 

" ' Resolved, That we commend to all the lower Church courts, 
and especially to all churches, to use moderation, prudence, 
and charity in reference to the differences that exist among 
us on the subject of liturgical worship, in order that we may 
be brought in due time to unity and peace.' 

"Immediately after the motion for the adoption of the 
report the following amendment, in the form of a substi- 
tute, was moved and seconded, namely: 

Resolved, (a) That the Liturgy of the Reformed Church 
submitted to this body by the Synods of Ohio and of the 
Northwest, together with the Order of Worship of the Eastern 
Synod, be submitted to the several Classes for their approval 
or disapproval, according to the Constitution, and that in the 



27 

meantime the optional use of both be allowed in the Church. 
(6) Neither of these Liturgies, however, shall in any case be 
introduced in the regular order of service without the formal 
consent of the consistory and congregation.' 

"On this form of the subject a discussion commenced 
and proceeded. Pending the question, the Synod adjourned 
until three o'clock in the afternoon." 

"Tuesday, November 30, 3 p.m. 

" Synod met. 
" On motion, 

" ' Resolved, That the speeches on the subject of Liturgy be 
limited to fifteen minutes.' 

"The discussion on the Liturgy was resumed and con- 
tinued. Pending the question, the Synod adjourned until 
eight o'clock in the evening." 

"Tuesday Evening, November 30, 8 o'clock. 
" Synod met. 

" The consideration of the subject of the Liturgy, pending 
at adjournment, was resumed, and the discussion continued 
during the evening session. 

"Pending the question, the Synod adjourned until 
Wednesday morning at nine o'clock. Closed with sing- 
ing and prayer" (as usual). 

" Wednesday, December 1, 9 a.m. 

" The consideration of the subject of the Liturgy was 
resumed, and the discussion continued during a part of the 
morning session. 

" The previous question was moved and sustained. The 
amendment which was to be voted upon w T as read. A 



28 



division of the question was culled for. The President de- 
cided that the amendment could be divided and separately 
voted upon. An appeal was taken from his decision. The 
decision of the chair was sustained by 88 to 75. The vote 
was taken on the latter portion of the amendment (marked 
6), which was lost by 101 nays to 81 yeas." (Pages 46-49.) 
" The vote then proceeded on the former part of the 
amendment (marked a), which was also lost by 106 nays 
to 74 yeas, and 2 non-liquets. 

" The amendment being lost, the vote was finally taken 
upon the original report, and it was adopted by a vote of 
117 yeas to 52 nays, and 9 non-liquets." 

These votes are recorded in full on pages 49-52, minutes 
of 1869. 

"MEMORIALS RESPECTING THE ORDER OF WORSHIP, 

"The Special Committee on the Memorials from the 
Congregations connected with the Eastern Synod and the 
Westmoreland Classis of the Ohio Synod, pertaining to 
the provisional use of the Order of Worship as allowed 
by the General Synod at Dayton, submitted their report. 
The report was received and its adoption moved. 

"Pending the discussion of the report, the Synod ad- 
journed to meet at three o'clock in the afternoon." 

" Wednesday, December 1, 3 p.m. 

" The question pending at adjournment, having reference 
to the adoption of the report of the Committee on Mem- 
orials, was resumed and the report adopted. 

"Subsequently this action was reconsidered, and the 
report was slightly amended. Thereupon a motion was 
made to strike out the fifth paragraph. This motion, after 



29 



some discussion, was lost by a rising vote of 75 to 72. 
The report was then adopted by a rising vote of 87 to 70, 
and is as follows: 

'"Your committee, to whom were referred memorials relat- 
ing to the Liturgy, respectfully offer the following report : 

" ' 1. We have found that these papers, although in numbers 
seventy-one, and coming from different churches in Eastern 
Synod and Westmoreland Classis, are in reality but one me- 
morial, presenting the same complaints and asking for the 
same kind of synodical action. 

" ' 2. These memorialists claim that ample time has been 
afforded for the proper trial of the merits of the Liturgy, and 
that, because it has been introduced to but a limited extent, 
it must be taken for granted that its liturgical construction 
and theological tone are distasteful or obnoxious to the ortho- 
dox sense of our people. 

" ' 3. They say it is repugnant to their own private personal 
convictions, and they solemnly charge that it has been doing 
great mischief in the Church already, and that it will do still 
more harm in the future if Synod will not peremptorily inter- 
dict its provisional use. 

"'4. Now, although these memorialists exercise a lawful 
right, and are apparently respectful, they still do serious in- 
justice to the Eastern Synod, under the supervision of which 
the Order of Worship has been brought out, and in the judg- 
ment of which, repeatedly given, it is a book proper to be used. 

" ' 5. They also wrong the General Synod, because this eccle- 
siastical court also allowed it as an Order of Worship proper to 
be used, after a full and prayerful consideration of its merits. 

" ' 6. But the worst feature of this memorial movement is 
that it flies directly in the face of the history of the Reformed 
Church from the beginning of its existence down to the 
present day, by asking that Synod shall take away rights 
from others which the petitioners claim for themselves, and 
thus limit and curtail the broad and generous freedom which 



30 



our branch of the church catholic has always allowed in mat- 
ters of this kind. 

" ' Now, in view of these facts, and for other reasons that might 
be given, it is the opinion of your committee that the prayer 
of the memorialists should not be granted.'" (Pages 52-54.) 

"hymns in liturgy. 

" On motion, the following preamble and resolution on 
the subject were adopted: 

" ' Whereas, The General Synod has allowed the provisional 
use of the two Liturgies in the Church ; and 

" ' Whereas, It is desirable that a selection of hymns should 
be inserted in the Liturgy ; therefore 

" 'Resolved, That permission is hereby given to the Eastern 
Synod and to the Synod of Ohio and of the Northwest r 
should they desire it, to insert a selection of hymns and 
chants for provisional use in the Church in their respective 
Liturgies.'" (Page 65.) 

FOURTH TRIENNIAL SESSION. 
Cincinnati, Ohio, November 27 -December 5, 1872. 
Rev. John H. Klein, President. 

"report of the committee on minutfs of district synods* 

" Synod in the United States — Minutes for 1870. 

" Item 1, page 10. This Synod adopts the recommenda- 
tions of General Synod: to use moderation, prudence, and 
charity in reference to the differences that exist among us on 
the subject of the Liturgy." 

" Item 2, page 10. Synod adopts the permission given it of 
inserting hymns and chants for provisional use in the Lit- 
urgy." (Page 15.) 

Items 1 and 2 were adopted. ( Page 16.) 



31 



" The Pittsburg Synod— Minutes for 1870." 

" d, page 27. The Synod expresses its pleasure with the 
peaceable solution of the liturgical question, and with the 
fact that both Liturgies were being translated into the German 
language." (Page 18.) 

Item adopted. 

''report of the committee on minutes of classes." 

" Item 6. The Classes of Goshenhoppen, Philadelphia, Mer- 
cersburg, Lancaster (Eastern), Zion's, Indiana, Sheboygan, 
Lebanon, and St. Paul's have approved of the action of the 
General Synod on the subject of the Liturgy, and have recom- 
mended the exercise of moderation, prudence, and charity in 
view of the prevalent difference of opinion in the Church upon 
the subject of liturgical worship." ( Page 20.) 

" Item 18. The Classis of Minnesota requests this Synod 
to refer the Liturgies of Order of Worship to the Classes for 
their approval or rejection." 

" Item 19. The same Classis requests the Synod to decide 
whether an Order of Worship can be introduced in a congre- 
gation without the consent of the consistory." (Page 22.) 
Page 92 the fact is stated that this Classis was " directed to 
the action of the General Synod at Philadelphia as recorded 
in its minutes of 1869, page 47." 

The following paragraphs are quoted from the 

REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEE ON STATE OF CHURCH. 

u In conclusion, the committee feel constrained to make 
explicit reference to the difference of sentiment touching 
worship, and some points of doctrine that prevail in the 
Reformed Church. That there are two tendencies was dis- 
tinctly recognized by the General Synod of Philadelphia. 
This division of sentiment has ripened into antagonism, the 
adherents of one tendency being arrayed in their practical 
church work directly against the adherents of the opposite 



32 



tendency. Whilst the present state of things exists, there 
c in be no unity, peace, and concord. Instead of concentrat- 
iug our energies in the way of harmonious action against the 
common foe, much of our time and strength is expended in 
maintaining the conflict within our own organization, and in 
seeking to achieve victory over the other. What is to be 
done ? The status is abnormal. We do not report it in order 
to solve the problem, but simply as a matter of fact. 

"That we are all lacking in mutual love and forbearance; 
that, amid the heat of the conflict, we are in danger of misinter- 
preting opinions, teachings, motives, and conduct, the repre- 
sentatives of both tendencies are, doubtless, ready to confess 
before God. Whilst the antagonism continues, every active 
workman is exposed to the danger of sinning against his 
brother. Let us all join in the earnest prayer to the Almighty 
God, through our blessed Redeemer, that he may defend us 
against the spirit of the world, and, by the grace of the Holy 
Ghost, guide and lead us in the way of truth, and wisdom, 
and love. 

(Signed,) " E. V. Gerhart, 

( Pages 31 and 32.) "Chairman." 

The following paragraph is culled from the 

REPORT OF GENERAL BOARD OF HOME MISSIONS. 

Rev. B. Bausman, D.D., President. 

u We need not inform this venerable body that the unsettled 
state of the Church, the exciting and irritating controversies 
agitating her, have seriously interfered with this part of our 
church work (missions). Although striving to be just and 
impartial to all interests and parties concerned, we regret to 
report that we have not received the confidence of the entire 
Church. From the start some of the Synods, in a measure, 
refused to cooperate with the General Board, claiming the 
privilege to disburse their own funds and manage their own 
missions, regardless of its authority." ( Page 37.) 



33 



FIFTH TRIENNIAL SESSIONS. 
Fort Wayne, Indiana, May 19-26, 1875. 
Rev. William K. Zeiber, D.D., President. 

"report of the committee on minutes of classes. 

"Item 2. North Carolina Classis requests this Synod (a) 
to permit them the provisional use of any hymn-book or col- 
lection of hymns that they may select until a new hymn-book 
shall be adopted by a majority of Classes; and (6) to take 
such action as will correct the anomalous state of the Church 
in matters of worship as growing out of the permission to use 
several Liturgies." ( Page 20.) 

" RESPECTING USE OF HYMN-BOOK AND LITURGY. 

" The Committee on Official Reports of Classes, during 
the afternoon session of the fourth day of the sessions, in 
item 2, reported a request from North Carolina Classis, 
asking General Synod (a) to permit them the provisional 
use of any hymn-book they might select until a new hymn- 
book be constitutionally adopted, and (6) to adopt meas- 
ures to correct the anomalous state of the Church, in mat- 
ters of worship, growing out of the permission to use sev- 
eral Liturgies, and also, in item 10, a request from the same 
Classis to General Synod to guard against the violation of 
Article 138 of the Constitution. 

" These three requests were referred to a special com- 
mittee, consisting of Revs. J. Spangler Kieffer, John B. 
Kniest, William M. Deatrick, and Elders William H. 
Seibert and Louis H. Koch. This committee, during the 
afternoon session of the last day of the sessions, submitted 
the following report, which was received and adopted : 

3 



34 



" ' The committee to whom were referred certain requests 
from the Classis of North Carolina, respectfully offer the fol- 
lowing report : 

" ' There were placed in the hands of the committee three 
requests from the above-named Classes to the following effect : 

" ' 1. That this Synod would take such action as to correct 
certain alleged evils arising from the existing freedom in re- 
gard to the use of two different Orders of Worship. 

" 1 2. That this Synod would permit the North Carolina 
Classis to use in its congregations such collection of hymns 
as it may select until a new hymn-book is adopted by a 
majority of the Classes. 

" ' 3. That this Synod would guard against the violation of 
Article 138 of the Constitution, and direct the Classes to 
make diligent inquiry as to any departures from the Order of 
Worship prescribed by the Constitution. 

" ' With regard to the first request, the committee, not being 
prepared to question the legitimacy or the wisdom of this 
Synod's past action, in permitting the discretional use of the 
two Orders of Worship now before the Church, would recom- 
mend the following : 

" 'Resolved, That this Synod deems no action necessary at 
this time, in reference to the Liturgies which it has heretofore 
granted the freedom of using. 

" ' In answer to the second request, they recommend the 
following : 

Ui Resolved, That the North Carolina Classis be permitted 
to use in its congregations any collection of hymns pub- 
lished by a Synod of the Reformed Church in the United 
States. 

" 1 With regard to the third request, the committee have 
reason to believe that the one hundred and thirty-eighth 
article of the Constitution is duly observed throughout the 
Church ; that is to say, that the worship of the congregations 
embraces the different parts of invocation, singing, prayer, 



35 



reading of the Scriptures, sermon, and benediction. They 
would therefore recommend the following : 

u 'Resolved, That it is not at present necessary to call the 
attention of the Classes to this matter. 

" ' Respectfully submitted, 

" ' J. Spangler Kieffer, 
(Pages 61 and 62.) " ' Chairman: " 

SIXTH TRIENNIAL SESSIONS. 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 15-23, 1878. 
Rev. David Van Home, D.D., President. 

" REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES OF DISTRICT SYNODS. 

" Minutes of the German Synod of the East, 1877 : 

" Item 8, page 54. General Synod is respectfully and 
urgently requested, according to Article 80 of the Consti- 
tution, to refer without further delay to the Classes, for 
adoption or rejection, such Liturgies and hymn-books as 
have not yet been so referred." (Page 17.) 

"REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES OF CLASSES. 

" Item 9. Iowa Classis requests to so amend the Constitu- 
tion that all ordinances, such as hymn-books, Liturgies, etc., 
printed in the German language and intended for use solely 
among our German congregations, shall be submitted to the 
German Classes alone for their approval and shall become 
valid when approved by a majority of such Classes; and, vice 
versa, all hymn-books, Liturgies, etc., for the use of the English- 
speaking portion of the Church shall require the sanction of 
a majority of the English Classes alone." (Page 19.) 

"To the same committee [Committee on Representation 
of District Synods, etc. (see below), created as a result of 
Dr. Weiser's paper] was referred the request of Iowa Classis so 



36 



to amend the Constitution that all ordinances, such as hymn- 
books, Liturgies, etc., printed in the German language and 
intended for use solely among our German congregations, 
shall be submitted for approval to the German Classes alone, 
and vice versa; that all hymn-books, Liturgies, etc., for the 
use of the English-speaking portion of the Church shall re- 
quire the sanction of a majority of the English Classes alone. 
As regards this proposition, your committee recommends that, 
inasmuch as General Synod in Monday evening session, May 
20, unanimously agreed to the appointment of a Commission 
by the District Synods, which Commission shall consider the 
questions of doctrine and worship now at issue in the Church, 
it is inexpedient at this juncture to suggest any action touch- 
ing the merits of the Iowa request. 

"Respectfully submitted, 

" Emanuel V. Gerhart, 
(Page 71.) "Chairman." 



PART II. 

THE PEACE MOVEMENT. 



Part II. — The Peace Movement. 
THE PEACE COMMISSION. 

" During the evening session on Monday, May 20, as ini- 
tiatory to a series of measures having for their object the 
reconciliation and adjustment of existing differences and 
difficulties in the Reformed Church, the following paper 
was submitted by Rev. Clement Z. Weiser, D.D., and, after 
being discussed, was unanimously adopted : 

" c Inasmuch as the Master did not neglect to portray, in ad- 
vance, the evil that must of necessity adhere to and intermin- 
gle with his kingdom to such a degree as that nothing less 
than a system absolutely safe in its own excellence could en- 
dure; as Holy Writ does not hide or cloak the delinquencies 
of any one of its characters ; as the history of the primitive 
church records the sins of its day ; as all faithful records of 
the internal state of the existing churches of the land and the 
world, in every age, reveal contentions so sharp that partings 
asunder ( Acts 16 : 39) and withstandings face to face (Gal. 2 : 2) 
transpired, the Reformed Church in the United States may 
not ignore the differences within its bounds, but confesses and 
laments over them. 

" ' Furthermore : Warned, on the one hand, by the evils 
already harvested from the seeds ol controversy sown, and the 
impending ecclesiastical suicide, if we bite and devour our 
inheritance (Gal. 5 : 15) ; admonished, on the other, by the 
more dexterous expedients of the wiser children of this world 
(Luke 16: 8) ; guided by the harmonizing councils and diets, 
from the primitive synod at Jerusalem onward ; entreated by 
the gracious memory of a once harmonious church ; drawn by 

39 



40 



the tender ties of a common ancestry and creed ; attracted by 
the grand results which must accrue by the more excellent 
way of charity, in a new inspiration of pastors and their 
flocks, in a revival of life and energy in its charitable, the- 
ological, and literary institutions, in its missionary and pub- 
lication boards, as well as the unification of the Church ; and, 
finally, left without election by the spirit of our Lord's new 
commandment ( John 13 : 34) ; therefore, 

" l It is hereby ordered by the General Synod of the Reformed 
Church in the United States, now in session in the city of 
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that a Commission be created by 
the several District Synods, consisting of a representation 
from the six several District Synods, after the ratio of church 
membership within their respective bounds, each representa- 
tion to be partly ministerial and partly lay, which Commis- 
sion, proportionally representing the true tendencies in the 
Church, shall consider and solemnly deliberate over all mat- 
ters in controversy within the Church, with a view of devis- 
ing a plan of amicable adjustment, to be reported to the next 
General Synod, on some such basis of mutual agreement as 
shall commend itself as best to the mind of said Commission, 
guaranteeing unity in essential, liberty in doubtful, and char- 
ity in all things pertaining to the Church.' 

"Thereupon, during the morning session on Tuesday, 
the appointment .of a committee on the aforesaid paper 
was secured by the adoption of the following resolution: 

" 'Resolved, That a committee, consisting of Rev. Nicholas 
Gehr, D.D., Benjamin Bausman, D D , George W. Williard, 
D.D., George W. Welker, D.D., M. G. I. Stern, Albert E. 
Truxal, and Elders John Hilbish, Hon. Hiram C. Hoover, and 
Christian M. Bousch, Esq., be appointed, to whom shall be re- 
ferred the Commission Paper, with instructions to report to 
this Synod the most feasible method by which the several de- 
tails contemplated in said paper are to be determined upon.' 

" This committee, during the evening session on Tuesday, 



41 



submitted their report, which was received and unani- 
mously adopted: 

" ' Your committee, appointed to arrange the details for the 
creation of the Commission called for by the paper presented 
by Dr. Weiser, and adopted by this Synod, beg leave to report 
that they have given the matter the proper attention, and, 
upon due consideration of the paper forming the basis for 
said Commission, and of all the circumstances connected with 
its presentation and adoption, suggest the following action : 

" £ 1. That the basis of representation in this Commission 
be as follows, viz. : 

" £ For District Synods having ten thousand communicant 
members, or less, two delegates — one minister and one elder. 

'"For District Synods having between ten thousand and 
forty thousand communicant members, four delegates — two 
ministers and two elders. 

" ' For District Synods having over forty thousand commu- 
nicant members, six delegates — three ministers and three 
elders. 

" 1 2. That General Synod earnestly recommends to the Dis- 
trict Synods that, in the appointment of their respective 
delegations to this Commission, they pay due regard to a 
minority tendency, where such may exist. 

" ' 3. That the president of this General Synod be the tem- 
porary chairman of this Commission, for the purpose of con- 
vening and organizing the same on the last Wednesday of 
November, 1879, in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at 
seven o'clock p.m. of said day. 

" ' 4. That a majority of the Commission, representing at 
least four District Synods, shall be a quorum to transact bus- 
iness. Respectfully submitted, 

" ' Nicholas Gehr, 
" ■ Benjamin Bausman, 
••'"George W. Williard, 
- " 1 George W. Welker, 
" ' M. G. Isidore Stern, 
" ' Albert E. Truxal, 
" ' John Hilbish, 
'"Hiram C. Hoover, 
' 'Christian M. Bousch, 
" ' Committee? 



42 



"Immediately after the adoption of this report, the 
Synod, amid manifest solemnity, united in special prayer, 
in which it was led in the German language by Rev. John 
Kuelling, D.D., and in the English by Rev. John H. A. 
Bomberger, D.D.; and, after singing a doxology and unit- 
ing in the Lord's Prayer, adjourned. 

"On motion, the following action, having a bearing on 
the preceding measures, was adopted: 

" ' Whereas, Under the guidance of the great Head of the 
Church, this General Synod, with cordial unanimity, has in- 
augurated measures designed to restore harmony and peace 
within its bounds ; therefore, 

" 'Resolved, That the ministers and members represented in 
this Synod be admonished to use their official and personal 
influence for the cultivation of mutual confidence and peace. 

" 'Resolved, That the editors of our Church periodicals be re- 
quested, as far as possible, to infuse a spirit of conciliation and 
concord into their publications. 

" ''Resolved, That the professors of our classical, collegiate, and 
theological institutions are requested to cultivate such a spirit 
of charitableness and peace in the minds of their students as 
is contemplated in the aforesaid conciliatory measures adopted 
by this Synod. 

" ' Resolved, That this General Synod most earnestly requests 
the members of all the ecclesiastical bodies under its super- 
vision, in the deliberations and decisions of their regular and 
special meetings, to have a due and charitable regard for each 
other's conscientious convictions, and, as far as possible, to 
conduct their business so as to cultivate and advance the 
cause of peace and good will among the congregations and 
people of our Reformed Zion.' 

"Also the following paper, with reference to the impor- 
tance of prayer in view of the 'Peace Measures' adopted 
by this General Synod, was submitted and adopted: 



43 



"'Whereas, the Constitution of our Church, in Article 
139, recognizes the holding of "prayer-meetings during the 
week as important religious observances"; and 

" c Whereas, This General Synod, in a sense, constitutes the 
heart of our Reformed Church, we deem it at this point emi- 
nently befitting for this body, in view of the specially solemn 
and weighty measures adopted by this Synod, which must 
deeply affect the welfare of our Zion ; therefore, 

" 'Resolved, That this General Synod hold a synodical 
prayer-meeting before final adjournment to unitedly seek the 
divine blessing, and to emphasize, by such synodical and 
personal example, this feature of our Church life to our 
churches. 

" 'Resolved, That our District Synods be advised to direct at- 
tention to this subject, to the end that special prayer be 
offered to God in behalf of the Commission to be appointed, 
and its great work, in the regular service, and in weekly 
prayer-meetings, at the time when that Commission shall 
meet for deliberation.' " 

"liturgies and hymns referred to the commission. 

"The German S3' nod of the East, as reported during the 
Monday afternoon session by the Committee on the Min- 
utes of the German Synod of the East, in item 8, requested 
the General Synod, according to Article 80 of the Con- 
stitution, to send down to the Classes, for approval or 
rejection, such Liturgies and hymn-books as have not yet 
been so referred. This request was referred to a special 
committee, consisting of Eevs. George Win. Welker, D.D., 
fm. H. H. Snyder, Fred. P. Leich; Elders Daniel Zim- 
merman and Richard W. Eastlack. This committee, 
during the afternoon session of the eighth day (Wednes- 
day) of the sessions, submitted their report, which was re- 
ceived and adopted. 



44 



" 'The committee to which was referred item 8 of the report 
on the Minutes of the German Synod of the East, being a 
request that this Synod order a final disposition of the several 
Liturgies and hymn-books now in use in our churches, would 
respectfully report : 

" 1 That this Synod fully appreciates the expression of devot- 
ed attachment to the Reformed faith and the symbols of our 
Church by this body. While the committee is aware that the 
occasion for much of the discord in our beloved Zion has come 
from the introduction and use of the several Liturgies in the 
worship of our congregations, yet, after the action of Synod 
last evening in the adoption of initiatory measures that look 
to the restoration of peace and harmony in our communion, 
your committee do not deem it advisable at this time to send 
the several Liturgies and hymn-books, whose use has been 
permitted in the churches, down to the several Classes for 
approval or rejection ; but, as all the questions involved must 
needs come before the Commission contemplated in the paper 
of Dr. Weiser, as adopted, therefore, 

" ' Resolved, That the entire disposition of this whole matter 
be referred to the consideration of said Commission, when 
appointed by the several Synods. 

" 'Respectfully submitted, 

" ' Geo. Wm. Welker, 
(Pages 74-79.; '"Chairman."'' 

"VOTE OF THANKS. 

"On motion, the following resolutions were adopted: 

" 'Resolved, That we, the representatives of the entire Re- 
formed Church in the United States, do hereby acknowledge 
our devout gratitude to Almighty God, the giver of every good 
and perfect gift, for the manifest guidance of the Holy Spirit 
in our deliberations, and that now, after so happy an issue of 
differences, we join hearts and hands and will go forth as one 
man in promoting and carrying forward the faith, the piety, 
and the benevolence of our beloved Zion with redoubled 
energy and zeal.' " ( Pages 90 and 91.) 



45 



SEVENTH TRIENNIAL SESSIONS. 

Tiffin, Ohio, May 18-25, 1881. 
Rev. Jeremiah H. Good, D.D., President. 

The statement presented here concerning the sessions 
and proceedings of the Peace Commission was prepared 
by a member of the Commission at the time of its meet- 
ing, and the report given below in full is taken verbatim 
from the minutes of the General Synod. 

"In accordance with the basis of representation pro- 
posed, the several District Synods elected the following 
named persons to constitute the Peace Commission, 
namely: 

" Synod in the United States, held in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, 
September 6, 1879. Ministers, Clement Z. Weiser, D.D., 
Thomas G. Apple, D.D., and Franklin W. Kremer, D.D. 
Elders, Daniel W. Gross, William H. Seibert, and Rudolph 
F. Kelker. 

" Synod of Ohio, held in Goshen, Indiana, October 4, 1879. 
Ministers, Jeremiah H. Good, D.D., and Lewis H. Kefauver, 
D.D. Elders, Andrew H. Baughman and Benjamin Kuhns. 

" Synod of Northwest, held in Galion, Ohio, October 4, 1879. 
Ministers, Herman J. Rtitenik, D.D., and Peter Greding, D.D. 
Elders, Frederick W. Scheele and Henry Tons. 

u Synod of Pittsburg, held at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, October 
13, 1879. Ministers, John M. Titzel and Joseph H. Apple ? 
D.D. Elders, Christian M. Bousch and Thomas J. Craig. 

" Synod of the Potomac, held at Frederick, Maryland, October 
28, 1879. Ministers, Samuel N. Callender, D.D., and George 
William Welker, D.D. Elders, Henry Wirt and Lewis H. 
Steiner, M.D. 



46 



" German Synod of the East, held in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania, September, 1879. Minister, John Kuelling, D.D. Elder, 
William D. Gross." 

tl MEETING OF THE COMMISSION AT HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. 

" The ministers and elders chosen by the six Synods of the 
Reformed Church in the United States assembled in the 
lecture room of the Salem Reformed Church, Chestnut 
Street, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1879, at 
seven o'clock p.m., together with Rev. David Van Home, 
D.D., President of General Synod, who had been directed 
by resolution of that body to be present and organize the 
Commission. When Dr. Van Home took the chair he ad- 
dressed the Throne of Grace, invoking the blessing of 
Almighty God upon the deliberations of the Commission, 
and announced the hymn, viz.: 

" ' I love thy kingdom, Lord, 
The house of thine abode ; 
The church our blessed Redeemer saved 
With his own precious blood.' 

"He then read the one hundred and thirty-third Psalm 
and the thirteenth chapter of I. Corinthians. After prayer, 
Rev. S. K. Callender, D.D., was chosen temporary Secre- 
tary. The roll was then called, and all the members were 
found to be present excepting Elder Thomas J. Craig, of 
the Pittsburg Synod. The fourth resolution of the last 
General Synod, on the subject of the Peace Commission, 
was read, the President having previously, just before the 
election of Secretary, read from the seventy-sixth page of 
minutes of General Synod. 

"The President then announced that the Commission' 
had been duly opened, and that he was ready to receive nomi- 
nations for permanent President. Rev. F. W. Kremer, 



47 

» 

D.D., then nominated Rev. C. Z. Weiser, D.D., for perma- 
nent President, and there being no other nomination, the 
Secretary was directed to cast the ballot. Dr. Weiser was 
unanimously chosen. Rev. Dr. Rutenik was then chosen 
permanent German Secretary, and Rev. Dr. Callender 
permanent English Secretary. The Rev. Dr. Van Home 
then withdrew, and the Commission soon after adjourned, 
to meet the next day at nine o'clock. They met at the 
same place on the morning of the 27th, and in the after- 
noon, but in the evening they assembled in the audience 
chamber of the church, where they continued to hold their 
sessions — morning, afternoon, and evening — until their 
final adjournment on the evening of December 3, 1879, 
when, after roll-call, in accordance with a resolution offered 
by Elder Kelker on the evening of the 27th of November, 
the Commissioners celebrated the Lord's Supper. The 
exercises were: Invocation by Rev. Dr. Weiser, who 
afterwards announced the hymn: 

"'Not all the blood of beasts 
On Jewish altars slain 
Could give the guilty conscience peace, 
Or wash away the stain,' etc. 

After the singing of the hymn, he read the seventeenth 
chapter of St. John. The members then united in repeat- 
ing the Niceue Creed. They then sang the hymn : 

" ' Forever here my rest shall be, 
Close to thy wounded side ; 
This all my hope and all my plea — 
For me the Saviour died 1 ' etc. 

"The members, then standing in front of the chancel 
railing, received the elements from Rev. Dr. Weiser and 
Rev. Dr. Callender. After prayer by Rev. Dr. Good, the 
Rev. Dr. Weiser stated that it would be in order for the 



48 



brethren who might feel so disposed to address the meet- 
ing. Remarks were then made by each of the brethren in 
the following order: Rev. Doctors Good, Weiser, Thomas 

G. Apple, Kuelling, Welker, Kremer, Callender, Kefauver, 
Elders Kelker, Steiner, Seibert, Bousch, Tons, Rev. Dr. 
Greding, Scheele, D. W, Gross, Rev. Titzel, Rev. J. H. 
Apple, Elders William D. Gross, Kuhns, Baughman, and 

H. Wirt. All united in singing, the beautiful German 
hymn, 4 Nun danket alle Gott,' etc. 

" After repeating together the Apostles' Creed and the 
Lord's Prayer, the benediction was pronounced by Dr. 
Weiser, who then declared the Commission adjourned, to 
meet at the call of the President. Thus closed one of the 
most, perhaps the most, blessed communion ever partici- 
pated in by the members of the Commission. 

" During the addresses many wept, and there was not a 
dry eye in the assembly. It was, indeed, a sweet foretaste 
of that holier and higher communion in which we all hope 
to participate at the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

"As nearly two years would elapse between the date of 
the adjournment of the Peace Commission and the next 
meeting of the General Synod (1881), the Commission 
sent out a pastoral letter, accompanied by their report, 
which appears in full below. 

"'the pastoral of the peace commission. 

" ' To the Clergy and Laity of the Reformed Church in the United 
States. 

" ' Dear Brethren : It is known to you that a want of har- 
mony in the statement of certain doctrines, as well as in the 
manner of public worship, has led to an earnest controversy 
within our beloved Church for the last quarter of a century. 
Such reasons of agitation have afflicted the various denomina- 
tions of the land, and of the entire Christian world — indeed, 



49 



from the divine founding of the kingdom of Christ, to the 
present, in many periods of its history, and will doubtless 
continue to mark its course so long as we may speak of a 
church militant. Our beloved Lord anticipated the day of 
internal contention, no less than that of outward onset, as we 
may learn from the holy Gospels. The book of the Acts of the 
Apostles and the Epistles in the New Testament refer to con- 
tentions sharp and bitter, to partings asunder, and to with- 
standings face to face. It were strange, then, had the history 
of our old Reformation Church not been so marked by a con- 
flict common to every age, and to every part of the body of 
Christ. Verily, she has not escaped her fiery trial. She en- 
gaged in the battle opened for her, and is passing through the 
ordeal, on to the triumph of peace, as we humbly and hope- 
fully pray, without experiencing the humiliation of a schism, 
or a rending of herself in twain. 

"'The General Synod, assembled in Lancaster, Pennsylva- 
nia, 1878, directed a Commission of twenty-four ministers and 
elders to convene in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on the 26th 
day of November, 1879, who should " consider and solemnly 
deliberate over all matters in controversy within the Church, 
with a view of devising a plan of amicable adjustment." This 
body organized as was ordered by the highest judicatory of 
the Reformed Church, and deliberated over the state of the 
Zion of our fathers for the time of one week, counseling one 
another by night and by day, in prayer and supplication, in 
the spirit of brotherly love and sacred confidence. The 
brethren represented the entire Church — her six District 
Synods; her whole territory — North, South, East, and West; 
her institutions, ministry, and membership ; her English and 
German elements, as well as the tendencies and shades of re- 
ligious thought which are found current within her borders. 

"'The sessions of this body were in the highest degree har- 
monious. The bands of peace held the members captive. 
The results of its labors were obtained, accordingly, under the 
manifest guidance of the Spirit of God, as we make bold to 

4 



50 



declare. Our common prayer, ascending from the Church to 
God, was heard— that we all may be one. 

'"These conclusions, which we now proclaim, may indeed 
not prove perfectly satisfactory to all the reverend pastors 
and faithful members of our Communion. Some, doubtless, 
expected more, whilst others would rather have seen less. 
The Commission, nevertheless, congratulates itself and blesses 
God for the happy fact that it has been enabled, under the 
Great Shepherd, to successfully carry out the spirit of the 
instructions of the General Synod, which directs a basis of 
peace, in which "unity in essential, liberty in doubtful, and 
charity in all things " may be maintained. 

"'It was accordingly ordered by the Commission that the 
conclusions at which the brethren had arrived should be given 
to the Church at once in this pastoral, believing that their 
communication would be hailed as an answer to their long 
and earnest prayer. It is fervently hoped that every heart 
that loves the welfare of our Reformed Church will be con- 
strained to confess that enough has been effected by the 
measure so solemnly inaugurated, and so unanimously con- 
summated, to secure a permanent and solid peace within her 
walls and prosperity within her palaces. 

'"We, therefore, submit to your prayerful and impartial 
consideration, brethren, the following as the unanimous 
results of our deliberation : 

" ' REPORT OF THE PEACE COMMISSION. 

" ' To the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United 
States : 

'"Fathers and Brothers in the Lord: The Commission 
authorized by the action of the General Synod at Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania, A. D. 1878, and constituted by the concurrent 
act of the six District Synods, in the spirit and interest of the 
original action, met and organized in Harrisburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, on the 26th day of November, A. D. one thousand 
eight hundred and seventy-nine, as directed. 



51 

'"The weighty matters entrusted to its solemn and prayerful 
deliberation by the Church, were considered during the period 
of eight days ; and after having arrived at a unanimous result, 
under the manifest guidance of the Spirit of Truth, the Com- 
mission adjourned. 

" ' Your Commissioners, in now most respectfully reporting 
their action to your reverend body for adoption, venture to 
express the hope that a like unanimity may characterize its 
endorsement of the same, as a basis to a solid and endurable 
peace. 

"'In order to the restoration and maintenance of " the unity 
of the Spirit in the bond of peace, as one body and one Spirit, 
even as we are called in one hope of our calling, one Lord, one 
faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above 
all, and through all, and in all" (Eph. 4: 3-6), "it seemed 
good unto us, being assembled with one accord" (Acts 15: 
55), in the light vouchsafed to us of God, to subscribe to the 
following : 

I. Doctrine. 

" 'The Reformed Church in the United States unites in the 
confession of her adherence to the doctrines of the Holy 
Scriptures as set forth in the Heidelberg Catechism, taking the 
same in its historical ( or original) sense ; and declares that 
any departure from the same is unauthorized by the Church ; 
and renewedly directs all her ministers, editors, and teachers 
of theology " faithfully to preach and defend the same." 

"'This action is not to be so construed as to forbid, or inter- 
fere with, that (degree of) freedom in scriptural and theologi- 
cal investigation which has always been enjoyed in the Re- 
formed Church. 

"'In presenting the above as a basis for peace in the Church, 
we are not unmindful of the fact that more than this might 
be expected. We believe that the theological contest that has 
gone forward in our Church for over a quarter of a century, 
with earnestness and zeal, has resulted, now that it has sub- 
stantially come to a close as we hope, in bringing the Church 
to a deeper apprehension of the truth. It would seem proper, 



52 



"therefore, that an attempt should be made to summarize, in 
some general way, this result. We, therefore, submit the fol- 
lowing, as embodying certain points on which this Commis- 
sion is able to harmonize, and thus contribute towards a 
substantial agreement throughout the whole Church in the 
peace period upon which we are now entering : 

" ' I. We recognize in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for 
fallen man the foundation and source of our whole salvation. 

" ' II. We hold that the Christian life is begotten in us by 
the Word of God, which is ever living, and carries in itself 
the power to quicken faith and love in the heart through the 
Holy Ghost. 

" ' III. We do not regard the visible church as commensu- 
rate and identical with the invisible church, according to the 
Roman theory, nor do we think that in this world the invis- 
ible church can be separated from the visible, according to the 
theory of Pietism and false Spiritualism ; but while we do not 
identify them, we do not in our views separate them. 

" ' IV. We hold that in the use of the holy sacraments the 
grace signified by the outward signs is imparted to those who 
truly believe, but that those who come to these holy sacra- 
ments without faith, receive only the outward elements unto 
condemnation. 

" ' V. We have come to a clearer apprehension of the fact 
that the Christian life is something broader and deeper than 
its manifestations in conscious experience. 

VI. We hold the doctrine of justification through true 
faith in Jesus Christ, according to which only the satisfaction, 
holiness, and righteousness of Christ are our righteousness 
before God, and that we cannot receive and apply the same 
to ourselves in any other way than by faith only. 

" ' VII. We hold the doctrine of the ministerial office 
according to which the ministers of the Church are not lords 
of faith, but servants, messengers, heralds, watchmen of Christ, 
coworkers with God, preachers of the word, and stewards of 
the mysteries of God. 

" 1 VIII. We hold the doctrine of the universal priesthood 
of believers over against all Romanizing tendencies to priestly 
power, while we also assert the proper recognition of the min- 
isterial office in the church of Christ. 

"'IX. We affirm our confidence in the truth of Protes- 
tantism over against the errors of Rome on the one hand, 



53 



and against the errors of rationalism and infidelity on the 
other. 

'"X. All philosophical and theological speculations (in the 
Church) should be held in humble submission to the Word 
of God, which, with its heavenly light, should illumine and 
guide the operations and researches of reason. 

II. Cultus. 

11 1 With reference to cultus, we recommend to the General 
Synod, at its next regular meeting, the inauguration of meas- 
ures for the formation of a committee, properly representing 
the different Synods and the various theological tendencies 
existing in the Church, whose duty it shall be to prepare an 
Order of Worship, containing such offices as may be required 
for the services of the Church, the said committee to report 
the result of its labors, as soon as their magnitude and im- 
portance will allow, to the General Synod for approval and 
adoption, as required by the Constitution of the Reformed 
Church in the United States. 

" ' And we recommend further, that pending the adoption of 
such Order of Worship, the various Liturgies now in use in 
the Church be allowed in public worship, provided none of 
them be hereafter introduced into any congregation without 
the consent of a majority of its communicant members, nor 
when (hi the judgment of the pastor and consistory ) such 
introduction would be injurious to the best interests of the 
congregation ; and that, until the Church shall adopt a new 
hymn-book for the use of all its congregations, any of the 
hymn-books now approved by one or more of the District 
Synods may be used by any particular congregation in public 
worship. 

III. Government. 

" ' With reference to government we recommend : 
" £ 1. That all the judicatories of the Church be requested, in 
the appointment of their boards and committees, to pay re- 
gard only to fitness for the position. 



54 



" 1 2.. That the General Synod, as soon as it sees its way clear 
and the general peace and quietude of the Church sufficiently 
established, take the proper steps for a thorough revision of its 
Constitution, Rules, and By-Laws, in order 

" ' ( a ) To create a more perfect organic relation between the 
different judicatories of the Church completing themselves in 
their head, the General Synod. 

" ' ( b ) To provide for a supervision by the General Synod 
over all the theological institutions of the Church by the ap- 
pointment of a duly authorized committee or Board of Vis- 
itors, empowered at any time, when deemed necessary, to 
examine into the doctrine, cultus, and management of said 
institutions, and to report to each session of the General 
Synod ; said Board of Visitors, however, not to interfere with 
any arrangement or authority of the respective District 
Synods, or their boards or committees. 

"'(c) To provide some mode by which all cases of ap- 
peal involving only facts and individual disputes shall be 
excluded from the General Synod, so that such only as 
relate to controversies on doctrine, cultus, and constitu- 
tional construction may be brought for a final hearing before 
that body. 

" ' And we recommend further that the General Synod be re- 
quested to direct the attention of the Church at large to the 
importance of an undivided effort for her extension, and to 
engage diligently and zealously in the work of missions, look- 
ing forward to a more concentrated and cooperative action in 
that direction in the future. 

" ' In testimony whereof we, the Commissioners, repre- 
senting the different Synods of the Reformed Church in 
the United States, hereunto subscribe our names, at Harris- 
burg, Pennsylvania, this third day of December, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy- 
nine. 



I 

j n a new volume, entitled* 'Christian Worship," 
Scribner Sons, New York, 1897,) are the acl- 
ases of prominent ministers of various denom- 
inations on the subject of 'Christian Worship, "at 
on Theological Seminary, New York. One 
of them is by Prof. William Rupp, D. D. , of 
caster Theological Seminary, on "The I^itur- 
of the Reformed Churches." It is a care- 
fully prepared discourse, although we cannot 
agree to all his positions about Reformed worship. 

we especially regret that, speaking as he does 
ic the Reformed, before other denominations, he 
'here mentions our Directory of Worship, the 
7 official book of worship of our church adopted 
the General Synod. On the contrary, he 
eatedly mentions the Order of Worship of 
6. (Seepages 204-207.) We fear that there 
; more ground for the complaint of Miami 
ssis a year ago to General Synod than the 
leral Synod gave credit for in its summary 
nissal of the subject. Professor Rupp also 
s not hold that preaching is central, (as in the 
Reformed Cultus) but claims there must be 
^adjustment of sermon and Eucharist. (Page 
>. ) He also holds that the Reformed idea of 
rship must be enriched by best liturgical pro- 
'ftions of pre-Reformation times. Precisely so 
the framers of the Provisional Liturgy talked 
il rty years ago. Is Professor Rupp' s teaching 
lead us into another controversy as that did? 
t hope not, and yet why persistently and in an 
warranted way ignore the book of worship 
lich has alone been approved and adopted, and 
3 rightful authority in the church ? More es- 
:ially is Dr. Rupp to be criticised for this when 
livering a lecture before a body of men such 
as he addressed. If it is proper to call attention 
to the Order of Worship, it would certainly have 
en in order to include all the liturgies in use in 
our church, and especially the one on which 
. 1 united as a ' 'peace measure. ' ' 



so-called "Apostles' Creed," it is dear i™ an , 
Christendom, because it contains the core- truths 
which this new formula strangely ignores. 

The New Testament does present a beautiful 
and sublime system of ethics, it also presents a 
beautiful and heaven-born fabric of theology; 
and they are interdependent. The Christ is a 
perfect model for pure and holy living; he is the 
divine teacher who reveals the thoughts of God 
to us. But he is more than our model, he is 
more than our Master; he is our Savior. "Thou 
shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his 
people from their sins. ' ' He came to earth to 
seek and to save the lost, and this only could be 
accomplished by the Cross of Calvary. No ex- 
ample that he has set for us, however faultless, 
no teachings that fall from his lips, however sub- 
lime, could save the meanest soul that lies under 
the condemnation of sin. As I am a sinner, I 
must suffer as a sinner the punishment due to my 
guilt. But my compassionate Savior — all glory 
to his name! took my place, and suffered for me. 
He was bruised for my iniquities. He satisfied 
the claims of God's broken law. He made it pos- 
sible that God might be just, and yet justify us 
when we lay our hands in faith on the head of 
our atoning Redeemer, and there confess our 
sins. He made it certain that we can be saved 
when our guilt is hidden in his wounds, and our 
souls are cleansed by his blood. The creed of 
all true Christians, of whatever name, was con- 
densed by Dr. Ray Palmer into just three 
lines: 

"My faith looks up to thee 
Thou Lamb of Calvary, 
Savior divine." 

Good Christianity means cross-bearing for our 
Master; good preaching means cross-lifting before I 
the eyes of all men. "And I," said the loving 
Redeemer, "if I be lifted up will draw all men 
unto me. ' ' This does not refer to his final exal- 
tation in heaven, but to his sacrificial death on 
Calvary. When he told Nicodemus that the 
Son of Man must be lifted up, he predicted his 
own crucifixion, and defined the great single 
purpose of it to be this: "Whosoever believeth 
on him shall not perish, but have everlasting 
life." How unwarranted is the assertion that 
Jesus preached chiefly a divine system of ethics, 



55 



" 1 Ministers. Elders. 

"'Clement Z. Weiser, Daniel W. Gross, 

" 1 Thomas G. Apple, William H. Seibert, 

Franklin W. Kremer, Rudolph F. Kelker, 

"'Jeremiah H. Good, Andrew H. Baughman, 

"'Lewis H. Kefauver, Benjamin Kuhns, 

" ' h erman j. ruetenik, frederick w. scheele, 

" ' Plter Greding, Henry Tons, 



" ' John M. Titzel, 
"'Joseph H. Apple, 



Christian M. Bousch, 
Thomas J. Craig, 



' Samuel N.Callender, Henry Wirt, 

'G. William Welker, Lewis H. Steiner, 

'John Kuelling, William D. Gross, 

" THE RESULT OF THE PEACE MOVEMENT 



Synods. 

Synod in 
the United 
States. 

Synod 
of Ohio. 



Synod of the 
Northwest. 

Synod 
of Pittsburg. 

Synod of 

the 
Potomac. 



German 
Synod of the 
East.'" 



"The Committee on Minutes of General Synod, during 
the morning session of the third day (Friday) of the ses- 
sions, reported in item 17, that the last General Synod had 
ordered the appointment of a Commission, by the several 
District Synods, with the view of considering the matters 
in controversy within .the Church and of devising a plan 
of amicable adjustment, and reporting to the Synod. 

"Thereupon, the Peace Commission, through the chair- 
man, Rev. Clement Z. Weiser, D.D., submitted their report, 
as given above, which, proposing a basis of amicable 
adjustment, was received and put upon its adoption. 
After some discussion the report was unanimously adopted 
by a rising vote. 

"Immediately after the adoption of the report of the 
Peace Commission, the Synod, with mingled feelings of 
solemnity and joy, united in singing the Doxology, 'Praise 
God, from whom all blessings flow,' and joined in special 



56 

prayer, led by Rev. Benjamin Bailsman, D.D. The Synod 
then took a recess until three o'clock in the afternoon. 

" Soon after the opening of Synod in the afternoon on 
Friday, with the view of completing the previous action, 
on motion the following resolution was adopted: 

" ' Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to report 
such further action as is called for by the adoption of the re- 
port of the Peace Commission.' 

"The Committee consists of Revs. Benjamin Bausman, 
D.D., John H. A. Bomberger, D.D., Nicho'as Gehr, D.D., 
Isaac G. Brown, Ji.cob F. Snyder, Elders Ephraim K. 
Kremer and Heniw Hilgvman. 

"The consideration of the report of this committee was 
made the order of the day for Monday morning at eleven 
o'clock. At the appointed time the committee presented 
their report, which was received, discussed, and adopted. 
The report is as follows: 

"' Your committee appointed to report such further action 
as is called for in the report of the Peace Commission, beg 
leave to submit the following : 

" ' Whereas, There is abundant material at hand for the 
preparation of a Liturgy, or Directory of Worship, suitable to 
the demands of the case and the wants of the Church ; and 

' k ' Whereas, For obvious reasons suggested in part by the 
terms of peace adopted by this General Synod, it is very 
desirable that the wants be as speedily provided for as pos- 
sible ; therefore, 

" ' Resolved, That this General Synod appoint the members of 
the Peac^ Commission a committee, and that this committee 
be directed to enter at once upon the work here assigned, and 
if practicable to complete it within one year; and when 
completed to report the fact to the President of the Synod, 
who shall be authorized to convene it in special session for 
the purpose of receiving and acting upon the proposed new 
Liturgy. 



57 



" 1 Resolved, That during the interval it be most earnestly 
commended that in the use of any existing Liturgies, as 
allowed by the Peace report, all pastors and congregations 
have prudent regard to the spirit and tenor of the Peace com- 
pact. 

" ' Resolved, That this Synod also appoint a committee whose 
duty it shall be to provide a hymn-book for the use of the 
whole English portion of the Church, in order to secure the 
desired harmony and uniformity in this respect; and that 
this committee be instructed to complete its work, and report 
no later than by the next triennial meeting of the General 
Synod. 

" ' Under the section of the report concerning church polity, 
the following is proposed : 

" 'Resolved, That inasmuch as the committee has understood 
that a revised Constitution, covering the several special points 
here named, will be submitted to this Synod, no further action 
on this topic is deemed necessary. 

" 'Respectfully submitted, 

" ' Benjamin Bausman, 
"'j. h. a. bomberger, 
" 1 Nicholas Gehr, 
" ' Isaac G. Brown, 
" 4 Jacob F. Snyder, 
" 1 Ephraim K. Kremer, 
" ' Henry Hilgeman, 
(Pages 102-108.; "'Committee:" 

EIGHTH TRIENNIAL SESSIONS. 
Baltimore, Maryland, May 7-15, 1884. 
Rev. Benjamin Bailsman, D.D., President. 

" REPORT OF LITURGICAL COMMISSION AND ACTION THEREON. 

"During the morning session of third day (Friday) of the 
sessions, the Liturgical Commission, whose appointment is 



58 



referred to in item 7 of the report of the Standing Com- 
mittee on Minutes of General Synod, obtained permission 
to submit their report, which was received, and, on motion, 
it was 

" ' Resolved, That the subject of the report be made the order 
of the day for three o'clock this (Friday) afternoon, and that 
meanwhile the printed copies of the Liturgy may be sold by 
the Treasurer to those wishing them at sixty cents per copy.' 

"At the appointed time, as the order of the day, the 
report of the Liturgical Commission was considered, and 
after a motion to adopt and a substitute therefor were dis- 
cussed, on motion the further consideration of the subject 
was postponed as the order of the day for Monday morn- 
ing at ten o'clock. 

"At the time designated, the consideration of the subject 
was resumed, and after the substitute (for the motion to 
adopt) was discussed, it was, on motion, 

" 'Resolved, That the report be recommitted, with the request 
that in the final resolution of the report this one change be 
made, namely, that the word ajjproval be substituted for the 
word " adoption. " ' 

" Soon after the opening of the afternoon session on Mon- 
day, the Liturgical Commission again submitted their 
report, which was received, and, the ordered change 
having been made, disposed of by the adoption of the 
substitute, namely : 

" 'Resolved, That the report of the Liturgical Commission be 
adopted, and the Directory of Worship prepared by them 
approved, and that the work be referred to the Classes for 
approval or rejection.' 

•" The report of the Liturgical Commission as amended 



50 



aud adopted by the General Synod at Baltimore, May 12, 
1884, is as follows : 

"'To the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United 
States : 

u 'Reverend and Dear Brethren : The Liturgical Com- 
mission would very respectfully report the final result of its 
labors to your body, in pursuance of the action taken by the 
last General Synod in triennial convention assembled in 
Tiffin, Ohio, May, 1881, to wit: 

" ' Inasmuch as abundant material is at hand for the prepara- 
tion of a Liturgy, or Directory of Worship, suitable to the de- 
mands of the case and wants of the Church ; and whereas, for 
divers reasons, suggested in part by the terms of the Peace 
measures adopted by this Synod, it is very desirable that this 
want be as speedily provided for as possible ; therefore, 

" 'Resolved, That this Synod appoints the members of the 
Peace Commission a committee, and that this committee be 
directed to enter at once on the work assigned, and, if prac- 
ticable, to complete it within one year, and, when completed, 
to report the fact to the President of Synod, who shall be 
authorized to convene it in special session for the purpose of 
receiving and acting upon the proposed new Liturgy.' 

"'The Commission begs, first of all, to recite the history of 
its course and deliberations. Its organization was effected 
during the sessions of the General Synod of 1881 by electing 
the officers of the Peace Commission its own. A subordinate 
committee of nine was appointed, to whom was assigned the 
task of preparing the proposed Directory and of submitting 
the same to the General Commission for review. 

'"The said sub-committee consisted of Rev. T. G. Apple, 
D.D., professor in the Theological Seminary, Lancaster, Penn- 
sylvania; Rev. J. H. Good, D.D , professor in the Theological 
Seminary, Tiffin, Ohio; Rev. S. X. Callender, D.D , English 
Secretary of the Peace Commission ; Rev. J. M. Titzel, D.D., 
Rev. F. W. Kremer, D.D., Rev. J. Kuelling, D.D., Rev. P. 
Greding, D D, Hon. L. H. Steiner, M.D., and Rev. C. Z. 
Weiser, D.D., President of the Liturgical Commission. 



60 



" 'This committee held a preliminary meeting prior to the 
adjournment of General Synod, May 27, 1881, in the First 
Reformed Church, Tiffin, Ohio. 

" ' The President of the former Peace Commission was chosen 
chairman of the committee, and Rev. S. N. Callender, D.D., 
was elected its secretary pro tempore. 

"'A second meeting was held November 17, 1881, in the 
Evangelical Reformed Church, Frederick City, Maryland. 

The work assigned to the committee was now formally 
and earnestly entered upon. Its sessions were continued over 
three days, morning, noon, and night. At this stage of its 
proceedings the Hon. L. H. Steiner, M.D., was elected its 
stated clerk. 

"'A third meeting was held April 25, 1882, in the First 
Reformed Church, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, also of three days' 
duration. 

'"The forms for the several offices of worship were then 
assigned to individuals of the committee for deliberation and 
preparation in private. 

U 'A fourth meeting was held August 8, 1882, in Christ 
Reformed Church, Altoona, Pennsylvania. Here three days 
were again occupied in the important work. 

" 1 A final meeting of the committee was held November 20, 
1883, in the First Reformed Church, Harrisburg, Pennsylva- 
nia, when and where, after three days of deliberation, the 
committee completed its work. 

" ' The Liturgical Commission was then convened, at the call 
of the President, to hear and act upon the report of the com- 
mittee of nine, November 23, 1883, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 

" 1 The Commission sat during four days, and after a careful 
and prayerful review of the committee's report, both in its 
details and entirety, unanimously 

Resolved, That the Directory of Worship, as prepared by 
the committee of nine, and subsequently amended by the 
Commission, be and hereby is recommended for approval by 
your reverend body.' 



61 



"'The Commission claims to have been controlled and 
guided during all its deliberations by the rubric laid down for 
it by the General Synod of 1881, ' to prepare a Liturgy, or Direc- 
tory of Worship, suitable to the demands of the case and wants of 
the Church.' It was its constant endeavor to meet these wants 
as God gave its members light to see and provide for them. 

" ' And with this declaration, your Commissioners humbly 
submit the result of their labors, in the form of a printed 
book, to the combined wisdom of your reverend body, and 
ever pray for your approval of the same, and your recom- 
mendation thereof to the several District Synods, Classes, 
congregations, and members as the Directory of Worship for 
the Reformed Church of the United States. 

" ' Respectfully submitted, 

"'Clement Z. Weiser, 
" ' President of the Liturgical Commission. 
" ' Daniel W. Gross. Franklin W. Kremer. 

" ' William H. Seibert. Jeremiah H. Good. 
" ' Rudolph F. Kelker. Thomas G. Apple. 

"'Benjamin Kuhns. Lewis H. Kefauver. 

" ' Frederick W. Scheele. John M. Titzel. 
" ' Thomas J. Craig. Joseph H. Apple. 

" ' Lewis H. Steiner. Samuel N. Callender. 

" ' Henry Wirt. George Wm. Welker. 

" ' William D. Gross. John Kuelling. 

" 1 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1883.' 

"Moreover, in regard to the Directory of Worship the 
following resolutions were adopted by Synod: 

" 'Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to sell the copies 
of the Directory of Worship on hand, at sixty cents per copy, 
to members of Synod and others who may wish the book. 

" 'Resolved, That the Stated Clerk of Synod forward imme- 
diately to each stated clerk of the respective Classes one copy 
of the Directory, and inform the said clerks by letter what 
further action the General Synod may take on the subject. 



02 



" 'Resolved, That a publishing committee consisting of five 
members (of which the Treasurer shall be one) be appointed 
to take charge of the publication of all future editions of the 
Directory. Such committee shall have power to permit edi- 
tions of the Directory, consisting of not less than one thou- 
sand copies each, to be issued by any publication house in the 
Church from plates now owned by Synod, and to bear the 
imprint of such house, the printing to be done by such person 
or persons as may be satisfactory to the committee, and on 
such terms as its members may approve; always provided 
there shall be paid by such publication house to the treasurer 
of General Synod a bonus of ten cents on each copy so 
printed. 

" ' Resolved, That the remaining books of the first edition of 
the Directory of Worship be transferred to the committee ap- 
pointed on the publication of the Directory of Worship, to 
dispose of them at such place and upon such conditions as 
may seem best in their judgment.' 

" The Publishing Committee of the Directory of Worship, 
as appointed by Synod, consists of Rudolph F. Kelker, 
Harrisburg, Pa.; Lewis H. Steiner, M.D., Frederick, Md.; 
Thomas J. Craig, Pittsburg, Pa.; Benjamin Kuhns, Day- 
ton, Ohio; William D. Gross, Philadelphia, Pa." (Pages 
78-82.) 

The following paragraphs are culled from the report on 
the State of Church, adopted at this same meeting : 

" In the field of missions our progress has been striking. 
Home missions have been prosecuted, not, perhaps, as they 
might or should have been, but yet with increased zeal and 
diligence, as is evident from the fact that the contributions 
made to this cause during the last three years are $22,950.61 
in excess of those made during the previous three years. In 
the field of foreign missions the Church begins to realize the 
responsibility which devolves upon her in the work which she 



63 



has undertaken, and the spirit of love for and zeal in the cause 
is rapidly growing." (Page 42.) 

"It has been said that we have made our journey through 
the Wilderness of Strife, and have now reached the Promised 
Land of Peace. But this land is not yet the land of Beulah. 
We have reached a point from which we can look back upon 
the past, and contemplate it in the light of a heroic age ; we 
can look forward with pleasant anticipations of great things 
to be realized in the future ; but the present, our day, demands 
that, clothed in the armor of light, we should stand prepared 
to do valiant battle, not against one another, but against the 
common enemy." (Page 43.) 

NINTH TRIENNIAL SESSIONS. 
Akron, Ohio, June 1-8, 1887. 
Rev. George William Welker, D.D., President. 

" THE DIRECTORY OF WORSHIP. 

" 1. Distribution of Directory of Worship. 

"The Standing Committee on Minutes of General Synod, 
during the morning session on Friday, reported in item 8 
that the Stated Clerk was instructed to forward one copy of 
the Directory of Worship to each of the stated clerks of 
the respective Classes, and to inform said clerks by letter in 
regard to the further action of the Synod on the subject. 
In response the following report was received and adopted: 

"'It is hereby reported that, in accordance with the action 
of the last General Synod in the matter, through the efficient 
cooperation of Mr. Rudolph F. Kelker, chairman of the Pub- 
lishing Committee, a copy of the Directory of Worship was 
forwarded to each stated clerk of the respective Classes, accom- 
panied by an explanatory circular on the part of Mr. Kelker. 



I also informed each of said clerks by circular letter respecting 
the further action of the Synod on the subject in question. 

"'As to the number of copies circulated or sold, I cannot 
speak definitely, but I presume this fact will be reported by 
the Publishing Committee, or indicated in the report of the 
Treasurer of Synod. 

" 1 Respectfully submitted, 

'"Isaac H. Reiter, 

"'Stated Clerk.' 

"2. Report on Publication of Directory of Worship. 

" The Standing Committee on Overtures, during the 
morning session on Saturday, reported in item 18 the re- 
ception of the report of the Committee on Publication of 
the Directory of Worship, and also a supplement exhibit- 
ing the vote of the several Classes on the question of the 
constitutional adoption or rejection of the Directory of 
Worship. The report, having been first referred to the 
Standing 1 Committee on Minutes of English Classes, was 
read during the morning session on Monday, and adopted; 
and is as follows : 

" : To the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United 
States : 

" ' Reverend Fathers and Brethren : The undersigned 
surviving members of the committee appointed by the Gen- 
eral Synod of 1884 "to take charge of the publication of all 
future editions of the Directory of Worship,'" and to whom 
were transferred the remaining copies of the first edition of 
the Directory of Worship " to dispose of them at such place 
and upon such conditions as may seem best in their judg- 
ment,'' respectfully beg leave to report : 

" ' That in pursuance of the authority thus vested in them, 
and with a view to fulfill the instructions of General Synod, 
they on the 17th of April. 1885, addressed a letter to the 



85 



stated clerk of each of the fifty-two Classes, of which the fol- 
lowing is a copy : 

'"Dear Brother: If your Classis has already either ap- 
proved or rejected the Directory of Worship for the Reformed 
Church in the United States approved by General Synod 
at Baltimore, in May, 1884, please send us a certified copy of 
their action in the premises. 

" ' If no action has yet been taken thereon, please advise us 
without delay, in the manner aforesaid, of the action which 
may be taken at your approaching annual meeting. We ask 
particular attention to this request, as it is exceedingly impor- 
tant that we should possess the information sought as soon as 
possible. 

" ' Address your reply to the chairman of this committee, at 
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. 

" 1 Yours in Christian fellowship and love, 

'"Rudolph F. Kelker, 
"'Lewis H. Stelner, 
" ' Thomas J. Craig, 
" ' Benjamin Kuhns, 
" 'Surviving Members of the Publishing Committee of the Directory 
of Worship Appointed by General Synod. 

" 'On the 14th day of October, 1885, replies having by that 
time been received from all the Classes excepting San Fran- 
cisco, the committee met in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Pres- 
ent, Elders Lewis H. Steiner, M.D., Benjamin Kuhns, Christian 
G. Gross, Treasurer of General Synod, in the place of his 
sainted father then lately deceased, and Rudolph F. Kelker, 
chairman. A letter was received and read from Elder Thomas 
J. Craig, regretting his inability to attend. On examining 
the official returns of the respective Classes, they were found 
to be as follows : 

" ' J. Synod in the United States — 9 Classes. 

" ' Approved by East Pennsylvania, Lebanon, Philadelphia, 
Lancaster, West Susquehanna, Goshenhoppen, Tohickon, and 
Lehigh. 8. 

" ' The Classis of East Susquehanna has postponed action 
until its meeting in 1886. 



66 



11 'II. The Synod of Ohio— 10 Classes. 

" 'Approved by Miami, Lancaster, Tuscarawas, Tiffin, Eastern 
Ohio, Northern Illinois, Shelby, Iowa, St. Joseph, and Kan- 
sas. 10. 

" ' III. Synod of Northwest — 9 Classes. 

" 'Approved by Zion's, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Chicago. 4. 
'"Rejected by Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Ursinus, and Mis- 
souri. 4. 

" 'Abstained from voting, Indiana. 1. " This Classis declined 
to vote for or againstjan English Liturgy, and leaves it to the de- 
cision of those Classes in which an English Liturgy is required." 

" 'JF. Synod of Pittsburg — 5 Classes. 

" 'Approved by Westmoreland, Clarion, St. Paul's, Somerset, 
and Allegheny. 5. 

" ' V. Synod of the Potomac — 10 Classes. 

" 'Approved by Zion's, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, 
Gettysburg, Juniata, and Portland, Oregon. 7. 

" 'Approved conditionally by Carlisle. 1. 

" 'Rejected by Mercersburg. 1. 

"'Unheard from, San Francisco. 1. 

" ' VI. German Synod of the East — 5 Classes. 

" 'Approved by New York, German Philadelphia, and West 
Pennsylvania. 3. 

'"Rejected by West New York and German Maryland. 2. 

" ' VII. Central Synod — 4 Classes. 

" 'Approved by Heidelberg and St. John's. 2. 

'"Rejected by Erie. 1. 

" 'Abstained from voting, Cincinnati. 1. "Abstained from 
voting on an English edition of the Directory of Worship." 

" ' SUMMARY. 

'"Number of Classes in existence at the time of meeting 



of General Synod in 1884.. 52 

" ' Number of Classes required by the Constitution to make 
the Directory of Worship an ordinance of the Church 

(two-thirds) 35 

"'Number approved 39 

" ' Number rejected 8 

" ' Number approved conditionally .-. 1 

'"Not yet reported 2 

"'Abstained from voting 2 



'Total 52 



in 



"'More than the required number of Classes having voted 
to approve the Directory, the following resolution was offered 
by Elder L. H. Steiner and unanimously adopted : 

"' Resolved, That the chairman of this committee be and 
hereby is authorized to have subsequent editions of the Di- 
rectory of Worship printed and bound whenever the demand 
for copies over and above the number now on hand may 
justify such publication. 

'"The chairman reported that five hundred and eighty-one 
copies of the edition printed for use of General Synod remained 
on hand, and he was unanimously directed to have two hundred 
of the same bound in cloth and the remainder in imitation 
morocco. The price of those to be bound in cloth was fixed at 
fifty cents, and in imitation morocco at one dollar per copy. 

" ' The chairman was also authorized to place the Directory 
on sale at Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Dayton as soon as ar- 
rangements could be made, all moneys arising from the sale 
thereof payable to Christian G. Gross, Treasurer of General 
Synod (P. O. box 1226), 3716 Haverford Street, Philadelphia. 

" ' The traveling expenses of Elders Kuhns, Gross, and Stei- 
ner were then paid by the Treasurer of General Synod, amount- 
ing in all to forty-six dollars and fifty cents ($46.50) and were 
immediately donated by them to the Board of Foreign Missions. 

" ' In pursuance of the directions of the committee, the 
chairman made the following disposition of the remaining 
copies of the Directory of Worship after they had been bound, 
the various publication houses receiving them to sell them at 
the prices fixed by the committee, and to account for the pro- 
ceeds to Elder Christian G. Gross, Treasurer of General Synod. 

'"1. To Reformed Publication Board, Philadelphia, Rev. 
Charles G. Fisher, Superintendent, viz. : 



110 copies (cloth) at 50 cents 
One-third off 



$ 55 00 
18 33 



$36 67 



231 copies (im. Morocco) at $1 
One-fourth off. 



$231 00 
57 75 



173 25 



$209 92 



68 



' 2. Reformed Publishing Co., Dayton, Ohio, viz. : 

132 copies (im. Moroco) at $1 $132 00 

One-fourth off 33 00 

99 00 

68 copies (cloth) at 50 cents $ 34 00 

One-third off. 11 33 

22 67 

$121 67 

"'3. German Publishing House, Cleveland, 
Ohio, Rev. A. Becker, Agent, viz.: 

12 copies (im. Morocco) at $1 $ 12 00 

One-fourth off 3 00 

; — 9 00 

12 copies (cloth) at 50 cents $ 6 00 

One-third off. 2 00 

4 00 

$ 13 00 



$344 59 

" ' 4. The chairman sold for cash a few copies for $6.59 net. 

" 1 This sum was applied towards the expenses paid by him 
for expressage, telegrams, and boxing and shipping the books. 

" 'The Treasurer of Synod paid Lane S. Hart for binding, in 
full, $205.00. 

" ' The committee would add that, by an official letter re- 
ceived by the chairman, dated June 18, 1886, East Susque- 
hanna Classis had rejected the Directory. 

u ' The committee record with profound sorrow the departure 
from this life of two of their members, viz. : Elder William D. 
Gross and Elder Thomas J. Craig. They now rest from their 
labors and sleep in Jesus. Their love for the Reformed Church 
was evinced by their assiduous devotion for many years to 
her interests, both local and general. Unblemished in their 
reputation, they have left a bright and shining example 
worthy of imitation by all who love the Saviour 's name. 
" ' Respectfully submitted, 

" ' Rudolph F. Kelker, 
" ' Lewis H. Steiner, 
" 1 Christian G. Gross, 
" ' Benjamin Kuhns, 
" ' Harrisburg, May 20, 1887. Committee.* 



69 



" 3. Constitutional Adoption of Directory of Worship. 

" The Standing Committee on Minutes of English Classes, 
during the evening session on Saturday, reported in item 
2, (a) the names pf the Classes approving the adoption of 
the Directory of Worship, and (6) of those disapproving 
thereof. This item, together with the supplement accom- 
panying the report of the Committee on Publication of 
the Directory of Worship, was referred to a special com- 
mittee, consisting of the chairmen of the committees on 
Minutes of Classes and of the committees on Minutes of 
District Synods, namely: Revs. Dr. William Rupp, Dr. 
Peter Grediug, Dr. Edmund R. Eschbach, John F. Busche, 
Dr. J. H. A. Bomberger, John A. Peters, John M. Ken dig, 
John H. Stepler, and Charles F. Kriete. 

" This committee, during the morning session on Tuesday, 
submitted the following report, which was received and 
adopted : 

"'Your special committee to whom was referred the official 
report of the committee having in charge the publication of 
the Directory of Worship, together with certificates of the 
stated clerks of the Classes, addressed to said committee, and 
certifying the action of the Classes on the Directory of Wor- 
ship, would respectfully report, that having examined these 
documents they find that thirty-nine Classes have voted to 
approve of the Directory of Worship, nine Classes have voted 
to disapprove of the same, four classes have abstained from 
voting, and one Classis has not been heard from. 

"'Respectfully submitted, 

"' William Rupp, 

u 4 Chairman. 1 

"Immediately after the adoption of the foregoing report, 
on motion the following action was adopted : 



70 



" ' Whereas, The Directory of Worship has received the 
affrmative vote of the number of Classes required by the Con- 
stitution for adoption of an ordinance in the Church ; therefore 

" ' Resolved, That the said Directory of Worship is hereby 
declared to be constitutionally adopted as the Directory of 
Worship in the Reformed Church in the United States.' 

u 4. Committee on Publication of Directory of Worship. 
"Rudolph F. Kelker, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 
"Lewis IT. Steiner, M.D., Frederick, Maryland. 
"Benjamin Kuhns, Dayton, Ohio. 
"Christian G. Gross, 1 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania," 

" St. John's Classis, as reported by the Standing Commit- 
tee on Minutes of German Classes in item 8, (6), overtures 
General Synod to have a free German translation made of 
the Director}' of Worship. On motion it was 

" i Resolved, That the request be granted, and that Rev. Dr. 
Nicholas Gehr, Dr. Peter Greding, and Prof. John Van Haagen 
be appointed to translate the Directory of Worship, and report 
the translation, in printed form, to the next General Synod.'" 

TENTH TRIENNIAL SESSIONS. 
Lebanon, Pennsylvania, May 28 -June 5, 1890. 
Rev. John H. A. Bomber -ger, D.D., President. 
"action respecting the directory of worship. 
"1. Report on Translation of Directory of Worship. 

" The Standing Committee on Minutes of General Synod, 
during the afternoon session on Monday, reported in item 

1 Note. — By some oversight, the General Synod took no action to fill the vacancies 
in the permanent Committee on Publication of tbe Directory of Worship, caused by 
the death of William D. Gross and Thomas J. Craig. But as, according to the action 
of Synod in 1884, the Treasurer of General Synod is to be a member thereof, the name of 
the present Treasurer was added.— Stated Clerk. ( Pages 143. et seq.) 



71 



11 that a committee was appointed to translate the Direc- 
tory of Worship into German. Thereupon the committee 
presented the following report: 

" 1 To the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States : 
"'Reverend Fathers and Brethren: Being anxious to 
perform the work intrusted to your committee in the proper 
time and with due deliberation, its chairman, soon after the 
adjournment of General Synod at Akron, consulted the other 
two members of the committee in regard to the best mode of 
carrying out Synod's instructions. To his great disappoint- 
ment, however, both positively refused to take part in the 
work. Discouraged, yet not dismayed, the chairman concluded 
to undertake it single-handed, and to get some competent per- 
son or persons carefully to revise his manuscript. The first 
one willing to undertake this task was Dr. J. F. Busche, of 
New York. Meanwhile, Dr. P. Greding, although having at 
first declined to assist, cheerfully consented to submit the 
translation to his acute, critical judgment; and in order to 
render sure, doubly sure, Professor R. C. Schiedt, of Franklin 
and Marshall College, also revised the manuscript, all of whom 
have rendered the chairman valuable services. 

" 'It has been the constant aim of the translator conscien- 
tiously to retain the sense and spirit of the original, and even 
to follow its language where its peculiarities interposed no 
barrier. The printing and binding of the book were executed 
by the German Publishing House of our Church in Cleveland, 
Ohio. Like all human works, the book is not without de- 
fects. In spite of the great care and labor bestowed on it, 
some portions having been rewritten several times, and the 
proof-sheets read very carefully, a few typographical errors 
were overlooked, and several expressions require a change. 
These, however, can easily be attended to when a second edi- 
tion is published, as the work is not stereotyped. 

" 4 Respectfully submitted, 

" ' Nicholas Gehr, 

" "Chairman? 



72 



" On motion, 

" 'Resolved, That the report be received, and the thanks of 
Synod extended to Dr. Gehr, for his faithful and satisfactory- 
labors. 

" 'Resolved, That the printed book, together with the report, 
be referred to a special committee for examination and to 
report thereon to Synod.' 

" The committee consists of Revs. Tobias Kessler, John 
C. Schaaf, Gottfried J. Reiche, Edgar S. Hassler, John G. 
Noss, Charles A. Limberg, Philip Ruhl, and Albert G. 
Lohman. This committee, at the evening session of the 
last day (Thursday) of the sessions, submitted their report, 
which was received and adopted: 

'"Your committee to whom was referred the German trans- 
lation of the Directory of Worship, entitled, " Gottesdienst- 
Ordnung der Reformirten Kirche in den Vereinigten Staaten, 
begs leave to offer the following report : 

'"We find the translation to be an excellent one. The lan- 
guage is a pure, smooth German, expressing the thoughts of 
the original clearly and forcibly. We believe that wherever 
the translation differs from the original in the change of words, 
the addition of forms for various services, especially those for 
family worship, or transposition of forms, it is thereby the 
better adapted to the wants of those of our congregations who 
worship in the German language, and that it is superior in 
this respect to any liturgy hitherto before the Church in this 
language. 

" ' Your committee also finds that the venerable chairman of . 
this committee on translation, the Rev. Nicholas Gehr, D.D., 
has not only done the work of translation wholly by himself, 
thus giving to this work his ripest scholarship, warmest zeal, 
and most conscientious labors, but that he has also borne the 
chief portion of the expenses connected with its publica- 
tion. 



73 

" ' In view of these facts your committee recommends the 
following for your consideration : 

"' Resolved, That this Synod hereby adopt this translation of 
the Directory of Worship, and allow its use. 

" ^Resolved, That the thanks of this Synod are given to Dr. 
Gehr for the very efficient manner in which he has performed 
this work of love, and for his generosity in giving, in this 
self-sacrificing way, the fruits of his labor to this Synod, and 
through it to the Church at large. 

" ' All of which is respectfully submitted. 

" ' Tobias Kessler, 

" ' Chairman? 

" As indicated in item 26 of the report of the Standing 
Committee on Overtures, a communication was received 
from the Committee on Publication of the Directory of 
Worship. In regard to this, on motion, it was 

" 1 Resolved, That the course of the Committee on Publication 
of the Directory of Worship be approved, and that the re- 
maining members of the committee be constituted the Com- 
mittee on Publication of the Directory of Worship.' 

" The Committee on Publication of the Directory of 

Worship as now constituted consists of the following 
members: 

" Rudolph F. Kelker, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 
"Lewis H. Steiner, M.D., Frederick, Maryland. 
" Benjamin Kuhus, Dayton, Ohio. 
"Christian Gr. Gross, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."' 
(Pages 144-146.) 

" REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON STATE OF THE CHURCH. 

. . . . During a period of twelve years the angel of peace 
has hovered over our beloved Zion with healing in her wings- 
She has been inspiring the hearts and minds of our ministry 
and people more and more with her gracious spirit. Again, 
since the former meeting of your reverend body, as well as 



74 



during the present sessions, have we been assured of the wis- 
dom of this movement in the growing tendencies toward the 
consolidation and unification of our powers and energies for 
the glory of God and the extension of his kingdom. Surely, 
during these years may not the leading of a divine Providence 
be discerned in this movement ? Differences of opinion and 
judgment as to methods and means of activity unquestionably 
still exist among us, and will, no doubt, always exist as long 
as we continue in the church militant ; but they are not, nor 
need be, antagonistic to, nor destructive of, the work itself, 
provided they are ever held subject to the true spirit of Chris- 
tian love. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is that 
" there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there 
are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And 
there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God 
which worketh all in all." Let us still more earnestly listen 
to the prayer of consecration of our blessed Lord, as the great 
High Priest of his people, " that they all may be one : . . . . 
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in 
one ; and that the world may know thr*t thou hast sent me, 
and hast loved them, as thou hast love- me." Thus may we 
implicitly follow the guidance of the glorified Christ! His 
word is ever yea and amen ; his hand, by the power of the 
gracious Comforter, will lead us into the whole truth ; and in 
this process may be discerned more and more the development 
of latent and growing resources and powers in the life of the 
church, of which the fathers of a generation ago scarcely 
dreamed. Greater light is, in these last days, breaking from 
God's Word, and greater forces are flowing from the church, 
which is " the body of Christ." Of what can all this be the 
fulfillment but of the words of our Lord himself: "Greater 
works than these shall ye do ; because I go unto the Father." 
Blessed is that church that can discern "the signs of the 
times," and that hears the voice of her Lord and King, " Be- 
hold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can 
shut it." Let us heed that voice of the Master, and enter into 



To 



the grand spiritual opportunities and privileges of work that 
are opening before us, and thus hasten the dawn of that day 
among men when "Jesus the Christ shall come to be glorified 
in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." 

" ' In close and intimate relations with this movement of 
peace in our own Communion, if not growing out of ic, has 
been the effort made to bring about a more intimate comity 
with our sister branch of the Reformed Church in this coun- 
try. From the report of the joint committees of the two 
churches, as well as by the assurances given us by the repre- 
sentatives of the Reformed Church in America who have 
appeared on the floor of this Synod, we have rejoiced to learn 
that the consummation of a federal union of the two churches 
is possible at no distant day. May our fondest hopes to this 
end continue to be cherished, until the consummation so 
devoutly to be wished shall be realized ! 

" ' There is a fount about to stream, 

There is a light about to beam, 
. There is a morning twilight broadening into day : 

Men of thought, and men of action, clear the way.' 

'"The Lord hath indeed done great things for us, whereof 
we are glad. He hath lengthened our cords ; he hath strength- 
ened our stakes. To him alone be all the glory ! 

'"J. A. Peters, 

( Pages 50-52.) " ' Chairman: " 

ELEVENTH TRIENNIAL SESSIONS. 
Reading, Pennsylvania, May 24- June 1, 1893. 
Rev. Thomas G. Apple, D.I)., LL.D., President. 

" REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OX THE MINUTES OF THE SYNOD 
OF THE NORTHWEST." 

il Item 3, minutes of 1891, page 16. Synod of the Xorth- 
west requests General Synod to refer the German Directory of 
Worship to Classes for approval or rejection. " 



76 



''Item 4, minutes of 1892, page 56. The Synod of the 
Northwest requests General Synod to grant the Publishing 
House of the Reformed Church in Cleveland, Ohio, the right 
to publish an edition of Directory of Worship in the size of 
the hymnal." (Page 21.) 

" This report was disposed of as follows: 
" Items 1, 2, 4, and 5 were adopted. On motion, respect- 
ing item 3, it was 

" ' Resolved, That the subject matter of this item be referred 
to a special committee, who shall report at the next regular 
meeting of General Synod, whether or not the changes in the 
German translation of the Directory of Worship are of such 
character as to require the reference of the German Directory 
of Worship to the Classes.' 

"The committee consists of Revs. John Bachman, D.D., 
A. Emil Dahlman, and Elder William Reinhardt." (Page 
22.) 

" REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINUTES OF THE GERMAN 
SYNOD OF THE EAST. 

" Item 5, minutes 1892, page 45. ' Synod respectfully re- 
quests General Synod to grant to the German Publication 
House at Cleveland, Ohio, the privilege of publishing the 
Directory of Worship in the form of the hymnal, said Pub- 
lishing House to own and retain those plates until the pro- 
ceeds of sales thereof have paid the original cost.' 

"Item 5 adopted, and referred to the Special Committee 
on Publication of Directory of Worship." (Page 25.) 

" PUBLICATION OF THE DIRECTORY OF WORSHIP. 

"During the afternoon session on Friday the Standing 
Committee on Overtures, in item 13 of its report, brought 
to the attention of the General Synod, through the surviv- 
ing members, the following: 



77 



'"1. Report of Publishing Committee of Directory of Worship. 

"' To the General Synod of the Reformed Church in the United 
States : 

"'Reverend Fathers and Brethren : The undersigned, 
surviving members of the Publishing Committee of the Direc- 
tory of Worship, appointed by your reverend body, beg leave 
respectfully to report : 

First. That the German Publishing House of the Re- 
formed Church in the United States, at Cleveland, Ohio, was, 
in accordance with the authority given us, permitted to use 
the stereotype plates of said Directory for publishing an edi- 
tion thereof, which plates have been duly returned, and are 
now in possession of the chairman of the committee, subject 
to your order. 

" ' Second. That several propositions for making a new set 
of plates suitable in size to be bound with the hymnal of the 
Church with music, and also to be permitted to publish certain 
of the forms of said Directory in connection with the Church 
hymnal for the convenience of our pastors, were also made by 
the said German Publishing House. 

" ' Inasmuch as the resolution of General Synod of 1884 (see 
minutes thereof, page 82) does specify that the committee 
have power to print from plates then owned by Synod, and as 
the work is copyrighted by the Synod, we felt that we had no 
authority, either to secure new plates, or to publish selections 
from the Directory. 

" * We therefore request your reverend body to take such ac- 
tion in relation to the said or kindred propositions that may 
be made hereafter as in your wisdom may seem proper. 

" ' Third. That the action of the General Synod of 1881, 
upon the report of the Peace Commission, allowed the use of 
the Liturgies then in use in the Church (see pages 105-108) 
pending the construction of a new Order of Worship, which 
permission evidently was intended to continue only until a 
new Order or Directory of Worship should be constitutionally 



78 



adopted, the said Liturgies being only provisional in their 
character. 

" ' The General Synod of 1887, having received the returns 
from the various Classes of their action on the Directory of 
Worship submitted to them, adopted the following minute 
(see page 149 of the minutes of Synod, 1887), viz. : 

" ' Whereas, The Directory of Worship has received the 
affirmative vote of the number of Classes required by the 
Constitution for adoption of an ordinance in the Church ; 
therefore, 

" ' Resolved, That the said Directory of Worship is hereby 
declared to be constitutionally adopted as the Directory of 
Worship in the Reformed Church in the United States. 

" 1 In view of this action, as well as of the solemn agreement 
of the members of the Liturgical Commission, who framed 
the Directory of Worship, that if their work met the approval 
of the proper authorities of the Church the use of all Pro- 
visional Liturgies should cease, your committee respectfully 
submit to your reverend body whether the renewed publica- 
tion of the former Order of Worship either as a separate book 
or bound up with the authorized hymnal of the Church, and 
in the use of which persons are admitted to membership 
without answering in the affirmative a single question, either 
at adult baptism or confirmation, required by the 124th 
Article, Part Fourth, of the Constitution of our Church, and 
Article 128 of the same part, is not only a disregard of the 
Constitution itself, but also of the spirit and letter of. the 
Peace Compact. We may also add that the use of said Order 
of Worship prevents an affirmative answer by the elders, 
delegates to Classes, to the second question in Article 49, 
Second Part, of the Constitution, " whether the introduction of 
members into the Church is faithfully attended to in accord- 
ance with the provisions of the Constitution of the (German) 
Reformed Church ?" 

11 'It should be plain to every unprejudiced mind that the 
mere profession of faith in the Apostles' Creed and " the 



79 



renunciation of the devil with all his ways and works," etc., 
does not make a candidate for confirmation a member of the 
Reformed Church more than of any other church, or subject 
him to discipline therein, unless he answers affirmatively the 
four questions absolutely required by the Constitution, and 
that persons received in such an unconstitutional way have 
neither personal nor property rights in the congregation in 
which they are thus received. 

" 1 It was to avoid the dangers and the confusion that would 
ensue by such disregard of the Constitution in the admission 
of members that the Liturgical Committee inserted in the 
rubrics of the Directory of Worship for adult baptism, page 
111, and for confirmation, page 115, that the questions 
respectively provided shall be asked, 4 "'together with such other 
questions as the Constitution of the Church may require." 

" 1 Fourth. It becomes our painful duty to announce to your 
reverend body the departure from this life of another member 
of our committee, the Hon. Lewis H. Steiner, M.D. His 
eminent services to his native State, as well as to the Reformed 
Church, in which he so long lived and labored, are so well 
known and were so highly appreciated that he needs no 
eulogy at our hands. 

"'Elder Christian G. Gross succeeded his now sainted father 
as a member of the Publishing Committee in virtue of his 
being also his successor as Treasurer of General Synod. 
Elders Craig and Steiner having entered into their rest, and 
the chairman surrendering at this time his trust, there will 
remain on the committee Elders C. G. Gross and Benjamin 
Kuhns, thus leaving three vacancies to be filled by your 
reverend body. 

" ' Yours in Christian love, 

"'Rudolph F. Kelker, 

Benjamin Kuhns, 
" ' Christian G. Gross, 
" ' Surviving Members of Publishing Committee. 

u ' Harrisburg, Pa., May 18, 1893.' 



80 



" The foregoing report, together with a request from the 
German Synod of the East for the publication of the 
Directory and hymnal together, was referred to a special 
committee, consisting of Revs. Dr. Samuel G. Wagner, 
Dr. John A. Peters, Dr. Herman J. Ruetenik, and Elders 
John W. Bickel and John B. Kieffer. This committee, 
during the afternoon session of the eighth day of the ses- 
sions, submitted their report, which was received, and, 
together with the report of the Publishing Committee, 
adopted, and is as follows: 

" ' Your special committee, to whom was referred the report 
of the surviving members of the committee authorized to 
publish the Directory of Worship, and also a request from the 
German Synod of the East for the publication of the Directory 
and the hymnal together, would beg leave to offer the fol- 
lowing : 

" 'First. We learn from this report that the stereotype plates 
of said Directory, which are the property of this Synod, have 
been returned by the German Publishing House, of Cleveland, 
Ohio, and are again in the possession of the chairman of the 
committee, subject to the order of this Synod. It seems desir- 
able that these plates should be disposed of, and your com- 
mittee would therefore recommend that they, together with 
the copyright, be sold to the highest and best bidder and 
buyer, who shall represent one of the publishing houses of 
the Reformed Church in the United States, and that the pro- 
ceeds of the sale be appropriated to the Society for the Relief 
of Ministers and their Widows. 

" ' Second. This report also contains an overture or inquiry to 
Synod in regard to the continued publication and use of the 
Order of Worship. As touching it, your committee would 
suggest that, as in the judgment of the Church this question 
was settled, for the present at least, by the action of the Gen- 
eral Synod, assembled in its ninth triennial sessions, in 



81 



Akron, Ohio, in the year 1887, it would therefore be unwise, in 
this era of peace and good will, and at this time, the begin- 
ning of a new century of the American history of the 
churches, to again make it an open question for unprofitable 
and unedifying discussion. 

" ' Third. This report bears official notice of the death of one 
of its active members, the Hon. Lewis H. Steiner, M.D., which 
occurred since this body met in its last triennial sessions in 
Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Your committee would bear cheer- 
ful testimony to his worth and activity as a man and a citizen 
in his relation to the State, as an earnest, consistent Christian 
in his relation to the church of his choice, and as an efficient 
member of the Publishing Committee. 

" ' We would further voice the thanks of this reverend body 
to the entire committee for the faithful service rendered by 
them in the fulfillment of their trust ; and would offer it as a 
final suggestion that after the plates have been disposed of by 
the surviving members, the committee be discharged by this 
Synod as having fulfilled the purpose for which it was origin- 
ally appointed. Respectfully submitted, 

" ' Samuel G. Wagner, 

" ' Chairman.'' 

" As reported in item 14 by the Standing Committee on 
Overtures, Elder Rudolph F. Kelker tendered his resigna- 
tion as a member of the Publishing Committee of the 
Directory of Worship, with the assurance of his continued 
interest in all that concerned the welfare of the Reformed 
Church in the United States. 

" On motion it was 

" 'Resolved, That the resignation of Elder Rudolph F. Kelker 
is hereby accepted, and the sincere thanks of the General 
Synod is tendered to him for his faithful and efficient services 
to the Church as a member and chairman of the Publishing 
Committee of the Directory of Worship." (Pages 211-216.) 



82 



STATEMENT OF THE PUBLICATION 
COMMITTEE. 

To the President and Members of the General Synod of the 
Reformed Church in the United States, assembled in Day- 
ton, Ohio. 

Reverend Fathers and Brethren : Although by the 
action of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in 
the United States of 1893, the Publication Committee of 
the Directory of Worship was dissolved after the sale of 
the stereotype plates and the copyright thereof, and we 
therefore have no further official connection as a commit- 
tee with the General Synod aforesaid, yet we deem it due 
to your reverend body, as well as to the Church you repre- 
sent, that we should present to you a statement of our pro- 
ceedings in the matter, and we therefore most respectfully 
submit the following memorial : 

" In pursuance of the foregoing action of the General 
Synod aforesaid, the Committee of Publication of the 
Directory of Worship caused an advertisement, of which 
the following is a copy, to be inserted in each, the Reformed, 
Church Messenger, the Christian World, the Kirchenzeitung, 
Hausfreund, and Reformed Church Record, viz. : 

" ' FOR SALE. 

" ' In accordance with the directions of the General Synod of 
the Reformed Church in the United States, assembled at 
Reading, Pa., May 24 to June 1, 1893, we offer for sale the 
stereotype plates and copyright of the Directory of Worship 
of the Reformed Church in the United States. Bids will be 
received up to twelve o'clock noon August 29, 1893, addressed 
to Rudolph F. Kelker, Chairman of Publication Committee 
Directory of Worship, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 



83 



" ' The committee reserves the right to reject any or all of 
said bids. Terms, cash. 

" 1 Rudolph F. Kelker, 
" ' Christian G. Gross, 
" ' Benjamin Kuhns, 

" ' Committee. 
" £ Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1893.' " 

"Appended to which advertisement in each case, was also 
given the aforesaid action of the General Synod. 

" And whereas, within and before the specified date for 
the reception of bids, the highest and best bid for the 
afore-mentioned stereotype plates and copyright of the 
Directory, viz., three hundred dollars, was received from 
Daniel Miller, the publisher of the 'Reformed Church Record 
and Reformirte Hausfreund, Reading, Pennsylvania, we 
therefore executed a bill of sale to him as follows: 

" 'Know all men by these presents, that we, the undersigned 
surviving members of the Publication Committee of the 
Directory of Worship of the Reformed Church in the 
United States, in consideration of the foregoing premises, 
and of the sum of three hundred dollars to us in hand 
paid by Daniel Miller, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, and by the authority of the General Synod 
of the Reformed Church in the United States, do hereby 
sell and convey unto the said Daniel Miller all the right, 
title, and interest of the said General Synod in and to the 
stereotype plates of the aforesaid Directory of Worship, 
and in and to the copyright of the said Directory. 

" ' In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 
sixth day of September, A. D. 1893. 

(Signed,) Rudolph F. Kelker, 

" ' Benjamin Kuhns, 
" ' Christian G. Gross, 

" ' Surviving Members of the Publication Committee of the 
Directory of Worship' " 



84 

We further beg leave to state that the three hundred 
dollars realized from the sale of the plates and copyright 
of the Directory were paid over to the Society for the 
Relief of Ministers and Their Widows, in accordance 
with the directions of the General Synod of 1893. 

The only other bid received for the copyright and plates 
was eighty-five dollars from the German Publication 
House at Cleveland. Ohio. 

Very respectfully. 

Rudolph F. Relker. 
Benjamin Kuhns, 
Christian G. Gross. 

Dayton. Ohio. May 28, 1896. 



86 



OUTLINE. 

J. Liturgical Conflict; or, Condition of the Church. 
L In General. (See II., 3.) 

II. Shown by Minutes of General Synod, in particular at 
the time of the meeting in Cincinnati, 1872. (Pages 31, 32, 
State of Church, Rev. E. V. Gerhart, D.D.) 

1. Desire to have Liturgy submitted to Classes for approval 
or rejection. ( Pages 24, 26, 31, 35.) 

2. Overture at the first Synod at Pittsburg, 1863, to have " a 
Liturgy that can be brought into general use throughout the 
Church " (page 10, item 1), a Liturgy " adapted to the wants 
of the Church." ( Page 10, item 3.) 

3. Seventy-one overtures coming up to General Synod, re- 
questing that " the privilege to use the Order of Worship be 
recalled, and such other action be taken in the case as may be 
proper." ( Pages 22 ancl 28, Philadelphia, 1869.) 

4. Several overtures and other matters pertaining to the sub- 
ject of Liturgy referred to a special committee consisting of 
Revs. Thos. G. Apple, D. D., James Bossard, Ph.D., John W. 
Nevin, D.D. , Elders John Ermentrout and Daniel Small. ( Page 
24.) This committee, in the preamble to their report, among 
other things say, " We see no reason why, under this freedom 
allowed to both tendencies, the Church may not settle down 
to comparative peace and quiet on the subject of the Liturgy." 
(Page 26.) Which presupposes strife and contention. The 
sequel proved the exactly opposite as a result of the condi- 
tions, and the beginning of the peace movement emanated 
from the tendency or faction which had prophesied no neces- 
sity for any such movement. 

5. With reference to mission and church work. (Pages 
31, 32.) Report on State of Church (see above under II.) 
and Report on Missions, Dr. B. Bausman. 



II. The Peace Movement. 

I. The Peace Commission. 

1. Its Origin. 

( 1 ) Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1878, Dr. Weiser. ( Page 39 
et seq.) 

( 2 ) District Synods, 1879. ( Pages 45. 46.) 

(a) Proportionate representation. Classes below 10,000. 
between 10,000 and 40,000, and Classes over 40,000. (Page 41.) 

(6) Fair representation, i. e. t both tendencies to be repre- 
sented. ( Page 41.) 

( 3 ) Met and organized, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Novem- 
ber 26, 1879. (Page 46.) 

President of General Synod, Chairman pro tern. 

Dr. Weiser elected permanent Chairman, etc. ( Page 47.) 

2. Its Work. 

( 1 ) With Reference to the Peace Compact. 
(a) Met as brethren — members of one church. 
(6) For eight days discussed the matters and points of 
difference. 

(c) Everything done harmoniously and 

(d) Nothing adopted until it could be done so harmon- 
iously. (Page 51.) 

(e) Sent out the Pastoral. Result of their deliberations 
(page 48), and closed their sessions with a communion serv- 
ice. ( Page 46.) 

(/) Each and every one pledged himself to stand by the 
report. 

( g ) Reported to the Synod at Tiffin, 1881. ( Pages 50 55.) 

( 2 ) With Reference to the Directory of Worship. 

(a) This committee selected a committee of nine to pre- 
pare the proposed Directory. ( Page 59.) 

(6) This committee of nine had several meetings, and 
reported to the whole committee. ( Page 60.) 

(c ) The whole committee adopted the report and 

( d ) Submitted it ( its report in the shape of a printed book) 
to the General Synod, at Baltimore, 1884. (Pages 59-61.) 



87 



II. The General Synod. 

1. With Reference to the Peace Compact. 

( 1 ) Adopted the report of the Peace Commission with 
mingled feelings of solemnity and joy, and joined in singing 
doxology and prayer. ( Page 55.) 

2. With Reference to the Directory of Worship. 

( 1 ) The Synod, Tiffin, Ohio, 1881, appointed the Commis- 
sion to prepare a Liturgy ( page 56 ), and 

(2) Made arrangements for a special session in case the 
committee would get through with their work inside of a 
year. ( Page 56.) Later on 

(3) Synod, Baltimore, Md., 1884, approved of the report 
of the Committee on Liturgy, and 

( 4 ) Referred same to the Classes. ( Page 58.) 

(5 ) Out of 52 Classes, 39 approved of the Directory, whilst 
only 35 were necessary to make it constitutionally binding. 
So reported to General Synod (pages 66, 67), and 

(6) The Directory was declared constitutionally adopted 
by the General Synod at Akron, Ohio, 1887. ( Pages 69, 70.) 

3. With Reference to the Copyright. 

(1) General Synod owned the copyright of the Directory. 

(2) General Synod appointed a Committee on Publica- 
tion, etc., which had charge of the copyright, etc. ( Page 62.) 

(3) This committee received instructions to take charge 
of the publication, etc. (Page 62.) 

(4) Was finally directed to sell the copyright. (Pages 
80, 81.) 

III. Conclusions. 
I. Before the Peace Compact. 

1. Condition of the Church, especially at the time of the 
meeting in Cincinnati, 1872. Statements of Revs. Dr. Ger- 
hart and Bailsman in "Report on State of Church " and " Mis- 
sions." 

2. Overtures coming up from various Classes, one Synod, 
seventy-one congregations. 

3. The Eastern Synod authorized the optional use "of the 



88 



revisions of the Provisional Liturgy within its bounds, until 
the whole subject be finally disposed of. (Page 13, Dayton, 
Ohio, 1866.) 

4. Fifteen reasons given why Order of Worship should not 
be used. (Pages 17, 18, Minority Report, Dayton, Ohio, 1866.) 

5. Fundamental principles upon which Liturgy should be 
based. (Pages 18, 19, Minority Report, Dayton, Ohio, 1866.) 

II. After the Peace Compact. 

1. Synod adopted report of Peace Commission amid min- 
gled feelings of solemnity and joy, and joined in singing 
doxology and prayer. (Cf. letters in Appendix.) 

2. Immediately the outlook in the Church grew brighter. 

3. At the meeting of General Synod at Baltimore, Md., 
1884, decided expressions referring to progress in Missions, 
etc., were adopted in the report on State of Church (page 62), 
and 

4. Ever since then the progress in the Church in all 
branches of its activity has been decided, very much in con- 
trast to the conditions previous to the peace compact. ( Pag* s 
73-75, 86.) (Cf. letters in Appendix.) 



89 



APPENDIX. 



The following condensed table shows, by way of com- 
parison, what was done in the Church for Foreign 
Missions during the fifteen years of the liturgical conflict, 
and in the same period of time after the Peace Movement 
was inaugurated: 

From Synod at Pittsburg, 1863, to Dayton $ 790 00 

From Synod at Dayton, 1866, to Philadelphia 1,079 00 

From Svnod at Philadelphia, 1869, to Cincinnati... 1,476 36 
From Synod at Cincinnati, 1872, to Fort Wayne... 607 00 
From Synod at Fort Wayne, 1875, to Lancaster.... 396 00 



Total for fifteen years $ 4,348 36 

From Synod at Lancaster, 1878, to Tiffin.... $ 10,778 79 

From Synod at Tiffin, 1881, to Baltimore 17,291 00 

From Synod at Baltimore, 1884, to Akron 31,720 54 

From Synod at Akron, 1887, to Lebanon..... 48,443 40 

From Synod at Lebanon, 1890, to Reading, 1893.... 71,260 09 

Total for fifteen years $179,493 82 

Extracts from letters written by several different mem- 
bers of the Peace Commission during or soon after the ses- 
sions thereof are printed below. They are published only 
to show the appreciation of the work of the Commission 
and of the Liturgical Committee and that the approval of 
the work coming from men who always enjoyed the confi- 
dence of the Church, and who have occupied prominent 
positions acceptably for many years, will tend to satisfy all 
who earnestly desire the peace and permanent welfare of 
the Reformed Church. 



90 



Of the twenty-four men composing the Commission, 
twelve ministers and twelve elders, the half have already 
been transferred to the church triumphant, namely, nine 
elders and three ministers. The names of two of the de- 
ceased brethren are attached to the extracts of their letters 
below, while the other extracts are from letters of mem- 
bers still enjoying the confidence of the Church. 

May 21, 1880. 

Mr. — — — . 

My Dear Brother : . . . I feel impelled to add some 
lines in this letter in response to your laudable desire and the 
measures you have taken to hold in remembrance the meeting 
of the Peace Commission. I am much rejoiced to find that 
you continue to esteem its work as you do. I feel sure that 
you do not overrate its importance. For what it has already 
accomplished in restoring confidence in the Church, and pour- 
ing oil on the troubled waters of unfriendly controversy, it 
deserves our high regard ; and I believe we have thus far seen 
only the beginning of its good results. We may not indeed 
have all plain sailing before us ; difficulties may yet have to 
be met and overcome ; but my faith is unshaken that we are 
now, and will remain, a united Church. I am not ashamed 
to confess that certain tendencies in the Church needed a 
check, and that the candid expressions that were drawn out, 
and the explanations and concessions made, have aided both 
sides in the long controversy to come nearer together, and to 
stand on common ground. I believe our peace is not merely 
negative, resting on indifference, but that it has grown out of a 
real movement towards a common position, and, above all, 
that it is baptized in the spirit of true love. I never enjoyed 
a session so solemn, and never expect to in this world, as was 
our communion in that closing evening hour. I am glad you 
are taking such pains, therefore, to commemorate, and hand 
down as an heirloom, the meeting of the Commission. 

We have a great duty yet to perform, namely, to stand to- 
gether until the work of the peace measure reaches its full con- 
summation. I for one am willing to stand with the Commis- 
sion, or what I think is the judgment of the Commission, on 
all questions yet to be settled, in preference to any or either of 
the old parties in the Church. For me they are things of the 



31 



past, and by the help of Grace 1 look and press forward now 
to the new era of unity and peace to which the good 
Lord has called us. I could write much more, for my heart is 
full, but let this suffice to give you assurance of my brotherly 
love. I feel warmly drawn to each member of the Peace 
Commission, and if we never all meet again on earth, I hope 
to greet them in the church above. 

Yours in the Lord, - — • . 

September 3, 1881. 

Mr. . 

Dear Brother : . . . The voice from the West indeed 
responds to the voice from the East on the subject of the Lit- 
urgy. I have no longer any fears that we will not be able to 
consummate the work entrusted to us as a Commission. The 
same Spirit that has led and guided us hitherto will not leave 
us now. At first 1 dreaded the new responsibility that Gen- 
eral Synod laid upon us, but, after all, it seems fair and right 
that our Commission should be asked to lead on in the way 
we ourselves pointed out for the Church. 

The old wrecks of division and strife are being rapidly 
washed away out of sight, and our good old Church is enter- 
ing upon a clear sea. God be praised for it all. 

Yours fraternally, . 

August 15. 1882. 

Mr. . 

Esteemed Friend and Brother : I suppose you have 
learned before this that our sub-committee had a very satis- 
factory session recently at Altoona, and finished our work on 
the Liturgy. We are allowed only to report this much. Our 
meeting was pleasant and harmonious. We adopted the work 
we have prepared unanimously, without even reserving any 
points to send up to the General Commission. We were re- 
solved first to be unanimous ourselves before we came up to 
the Commission, and with the Lord's help and guidance we 
were enabled thus to agree. Whether the Commission will 
agree as we did, and whether the Church will finally confirm 
our work or not, I cannot tell; but I feel sure that in our 
harmony the peace measure has been advanced one step 
further towards its final consummation. 

In due time our work will be submitted to the Commission^ 
and by them to tbe General Synod. Meantime the peace 



92 



measure stands fast as unanimously adopted by the last Gen- 
eral Synod, and no individual has the power to disturb it. As 
Dr. Good writes, it may be infringed upon here and there by 
an individual, but the Church, and both sides in the Church, 
remain settled upon it. That peace measure and peace basis 
are more sacred to me than any private opinion or judgment, 
and I stand on them just as truly and firmly as when we 
vowed to do so in our final session of the Commission. 

Yours truly, . 

December 2, 1883. 

Hon. — . 

My Dear Brother: I cannot tell you how much your 
speech affected me that you delivered on the last night of the 
Commission, and how much rejoiced I was that the Commis- 
sion finally put in the rubric a requirement to ask the consti- 
tutional questions. No one can fail to respect conscientious 
convictions, and I felt how much you had suffered in this 
matter. I believe now that we have given up the points in 
the Order of Worship that gave offense, and I am not 
ashamed to confess that I have been led to do so with a good 
conscience. It is not weakness to yield where one sees he has 
been led by education and the influence of great men into 
some extreme views, and to change them. I sincerely believe 
our experience in the Commission has served to bring us 
nearer together, and I hope and trust the Church will now re- 
ceive our work with the same favor they received our former 
report. Even if it does not please all, it is certainly in the 
line of harmonizing a once distracted Church, and upon that 
the Lord will send his benediction. Even if the division is 
not healed in all particulars while you and I live here on 
earth, our work will exert its influence upon those who come 
after us when we are gone. A vast deal has been gained for 
the Church since our former report. The harmonious meeting 
of the Potomac Synod in North Carolina was one of the fruits 
of it. Our rapid progress in missions is a fruit of it. What 
yet remains will come in due time, if we look to the Lord to 
crown our work with his benediction. I pray now that Gen- 
eral Synod may endorse and adopt our work, and that will be 
another landmark on our pathway towards solid and lasting- 
peace. I was sorry that some harsh speeches were made on 
our side that hurt your feelings, and I pray for pardon if I 
made any that wounded brethren. But I can now forget all 



93 



infirmities in my rejoicing over the unanimous conclusion we 
reached. 

I preached the Thanksgiving sermon here in , and 

announced our conclusion as something for us to be thankful 

for. I have before me a letter from Mr. , in which he 

says the Commission deserves the thanks of the whole Church 
for what they have done. I hope all will have the same spirit. 
One can work with heart when there is such good prospects 
before us. Excuse my writing, but I felt as if I had to ex- 
press my feelings to you. I feel that we have overcome one 
of the greatest hindrances in the way of peace and unity in 
our beloved Reformed Zion. May the Zwingli celebration 
draw us still nearer together. 

Your brother in gospel bonds, . 

February 25, 1884. 

Hon. — . 

My Dear Brother : I hereby acknowledge receipt of two 
copies of the Directory of Worship for the Reformed Church in 
the United States. 

I was very much pleased with its appearance. As soon as my 
eye rested upon it, and before knowing what it was, I said to 
myself, Well, here is something neat looking, any way, what- 
ever may be in it. When I read the title, my heart fluttered 
as upon suddenly meeting an old friend. Upon opening it, I 
found the contents in keeping with the neat exterior. The 
size, the paper, the type, all are of very superior character. I 
think you deserve the thanks of the Commission for the labor 
and pains you have taken in getting it out in such inviting 
style, you and Dr. Steiner. Of course your inquiry referred 
mainly to the mechanical work of the book, but so far as I 
have re-examined it, the internal substance commends itself 
highly in my estimation. It seems much improved by seeing 
it all together. I take it to my heart, and endorse it as a thing 
baptized by many prayers. It has come through much tribu- 
lation, and I trust been washed pure by the Spirit of the 
Lord ; and I feel like kneeling down with it in my hands and 
praying that it may prove a good messenger of peace to our be- 
loved Church. " First pure, then peaceable." We have labored 
and prayed to make it pure, and now it should make for peace. 
There will be many criticisms from different quarters, but 
when it is considered fully what task was given us to perform, 
I think the conclusion will be that we have done the best 



94 



possible under the circumstances; and if we look to the Lord 
he will lead us step by step to what is well pleasing in his 
sight. I am much delighted with your work. 

Your friend and brother, — . 

June 28, 1887. 

Hon. . 

. . . We here regard the adopting act as making a binding 
ordinance, and as such we intend to obey it. We intend to 

introduce it into the church, to the exclusion of the 

Order of Worship, and Dr. has announced to his 

congregation that he intends to introduce it in the 

church in place of the Order of Worship. I believe that all 
our churches should do this, making the use of the sacra- 
mental and other extraordinary services binding, whilst the 
Lord's day service is free, according to the rubrics, for each 
congregation to accept whichever form it wishes, or to have 
an entirely free service. Am I right in this view, and was 
not this the understanding of the Liturgical Commission and 
the meaning of the Directory as a binding ordinance? . . . 
I feel sure that the great body of the Church now favors the 
use of the Directory alone, in the sense of the Liturgical Com- 
mission, and as such all should receive and use it. Apart 
from this difference, which, however, was finally harmonized, 
I never attended a General Synod (I have attended them all, 
excepting the one in Baltimore) in which there was so much 
harmony. There were no party lines and no bitter partisan 
feeling. I am more persuaded now than ever that the work 
of the Peace Commission was a work owned and blessed of 
God, and that our Reformed Church is now truly united, and 
will so remain. . . . 

Your friend and brother. . 

Frederick City, Md., January 10, 1884. 

My Dear Friend : Yours of the 7th inst. just at hand. I 
was glad to hear the good word about the probable fate of the 
Directory. It is the best possible result that can be obtained 
by the Commission, and ought not to be opposed. It contains 
nothing about which there can be any doctrinal difficulty ; it 
doesn't contain much that I should like to have, but that 
wasn't the chief consideration. You will be glad to hear 
that I have read the proof of the last ( 245th ) page, although 



95 



there are still five pages of Scripture readings, which the com- 
positor probably laid aside for want of type, which will be here 
this week. The printing will be " put right through " when 
all the plates are completed, which is nearly the case now ; 
thus far everything is very creditable so far as the mechanical 

question is concerned. When the book is ready Mr. — 

will see that a copy is sent to each Commissioner, and that the 
remainder is stored away until the Baltimore meeting of 
Synod. 

As regards the family prayers, Dr. revised them 

handsomely, all but Friday and Saturday, when indisposition 
put an end to his labors. The prayer for Friday morning I 
took from the extra morning prayer in the Order of Worship, 
inserting a paragraph for our institutions from one of the 
prayers in the Provisional Liturgy; that for Friday evening I 
built up on one of yours, and that for Saturday I transferred 
bodily from the Order of Worship. . . . The Zwingli cele- 
bration here was quite interesting. Dr. — — — was not 
afraid to make the contrast between the two reformers, and 
the result is good for our own people. 

Thanks for your good wishes; may the new year bring hap- 
piness to you and your family. 

Very truly yours, Lewis H. Steiner. 

Rev. Dr. J. H. Good, Tiffin, Ohio. 

Shaw's Mills, N. C, December 20, 1883. 

Benjamin Kuhns, Esq. 

My Dear Brother : Ever since my return from the meet- 
ing of the Liturgical Commission I have been moved to write 
to you. I hope you will not think it amiss in me, after the 
many days brotherly spent together in the service of the 
Church we love. I have been quite busy since my return 
trying to get up my work that was left uncared for in my ab- 
sence, so that until now no time was afforded me to carry out 
my intention. As this may reach you while enjoying the 
holidays, it will not otherwise claim your time. . . . How 
is our work this time received by the Church? I have 
heard or seen only what the editor of the Messenger says, ex- 
cepting one letter from Dr. , who seems to be well sat- 
isfied with our work after quietly looking over it, and is 
anxious that it should be accepted by the Church and bring 
with it harmony and Christian love. He speaks very ten- 



96 



derly of the attachments of the brethren of the Commission, 
who before had been strangers to him. 

. . . I have no fear but the General Synod will adopt our 
work, but I would like it to be unanimous, and I feel pretty 
confident that three-fourths of the Classes will adopt it; but I 
would have all to adopt it in the same spirit and terms in 
which we agreed. Then, while it may not in all points be 
what any one would wish, yet there will not be in it anything 
that offends any one. All the stumbling-blocks and rocks of 
offense have been taken out of it. I do not know whether 
you have in the Church, English or German, in the West any 
one or two, or even three, who can unite in opposition to it, 
if they should be so disposed, and I am pretty sure that it 
cannot hinder the adoption of our work, even if it were un- 
dertaken here in the East. . . . Our ministers and elders 
now are free, and will think and act under a sense of their 
individual right and accountability. 

It has been a long, hard strain on mind, and often on the 
body, as it required days and nights of labor, thought, 
anxiety, and prayer on the part of the members of the Commis- 
sion. Yet no one, I hope, regrets its being done for Christ 
and "our own" Church. Perhaps some sacrifices of feeling 
and tendency had to be made, but no principle has been sacri- 
ficed and no wrong done the blessed Lord Jesus, the Head of 
the Church. It may take some time before all or either side 
feel comfortable. Indeed, some men never can be happy when 
ail goes quietly. They will have diversity of thought and il- 
lustration, and this should be allowed. No man should 
attempt to have all others use his shibboleth. 

But I tire you. My brethren of the Peace Commission are 
dear to me, and I thank God I learned to know you and was 
at the home of Brother with you. 

Hoping to meet you in Baltimore, and if not there, then in 
glory, I remain, Yours truly, 

G. W. Welker. 



